Christantus Uche Fuels Straightforward Palace Victory at Irish Side Shelbourne.
Even though entering their maiden continental adventure, Crystal Palace are learning very quickly. Missing key players like striker Jean-Philippe Mateta and wing-back Daniel Muñoz, the London club departed Dublin with a comfortable win that all but secures them a spot in the Europa Conference League playoffs.
A further victory in their upcoming match against Finnish KuPS ought to be sufficient to secure straight entry to the last 16, particularly following a prior stumble against Strasbourg.
Squad Members Grasp the Moment
This match provided a platform for several Palace's lesser-used players to impress. Christantus Uche, in only his second start since joining on loan from Getafe, notched the scoring with a clinical finish. Striker Eddie Nketiah added a second, scoring for the second consecutive succession.
The Shelbourne side that had finished their league season proved no match even for a largely rotated Palace lineup. The Londoners were already weakened by the reports that Mateta and Muñoz are out with knee problems.
Dominance Established from the Outset
In spite of heavy rain in Dublin, Palace rapidly took control. A slick move in the 11th minute, sparked by Daichi Kamada's incisive pass, allowed Nketiah to lay on Uche for a straightforward finish.
Midfielder Adam Wharton went close minutes later, fizzing a long-range effort over the bar. Nketiah then claimed for a penalty after racing into the area, but the referee dismissed the appeals.
Ex-Arsenal man did not have wait long to get his goal, prodding home from close range after Uche's shot had struck the post.
The home side were clinging on for dear life. Full-back Kameron Ledwidge was lucky to avoid a booking for a couple of robust challenges on Yeremy Pino, before Chris Richards struck the woodwork with a header from a corner.
Yeremy Pino Seals the Contest
The contest was as good as over eight minutes from half-time. Yeremy Pino meandered past a series of weak challenges before coolly dispatching a shot past keeper Wessel Speel to extend the lead to 3-0.
Following the break, coach Oliver Glasner seized the opportunity to rest several individuals like Kamada and Wharton. Replacement Romain Esse came close to scoring with his very first touch, but saw his shot blocked.
The youngster was desperately unlucky later on, seeing one attempt strike off both posts before being clasped on the line. Uche also missed a glaring chance, showing there is still room for improvement in his game.
A solitary worry for Palace was a late knock to Justin Devenny, who was forced off. This allowed 17-year-old striker Benji Casey to earn his first-team debut, capping an otherwise perfect night for the traveling side.
