Uche Sparks Dominant Crystal Palace Triumph at Shelbourne.
Even though embarking on their maiden continental adventure, Crystal Palace are learning very quickly. Without key figures like forward Jean-Philippe Mateta and wing-back Daniel Muñoz, the Eagles departed Dublin with a comfortable win that all but guarantees them a spot in the Europa Conference League qualifying rounds.
A further three points in their upcoming match against Finland's KuPS ought to be enough to seal straight entry to the last 16, particularly after a previous setback against Strasbourg.
Squad Members Grasp the Opportunity
This match provided a chance for some of Palace's lesser-used players to impress. Christantus Uche, making only his second start after joining on loan from Getafe, opened the account with a well-taken finish. Forward Eddie Nketiah contributed a another, scoring for the second game in match.
The Shelbourne side that had finished their league season proved no match against a mostly rotated Palace outfit. The Londoners were already depleted by the reports that Mateta and Muñoz are out with leg injuries.
Control Established from the Outset
In spite of torrential rain in Dublin, Palace rapidly took control. A slick passing sequence in the 11th minute, sparked by Daichi Kamada's incisive pass, allowed Nketiah to set up Uche for a simple finish.
Youngster Adam Wharton went close soon after, fizzing a powerful effort over the bar. Nketiah then claimed for a penalty after bursting into the box, but the referee dismissed the appeals.
The formerArsenal man didn't need to wait long to find his goal, prodding home from close range after Uche's shot had hit the post.
Shelbourne were hanging on desperately. Defender Kameron Ledwidge was fortunate to avoid a booking for two robust tackles on Yeremy Pino, before Chris Richards struck the woodwork with a powerful header from a corner.
Yeremy Pino Seals the Contest
The contest was effectively over eight minutes before half-time. Yeremy Pino meandered past a series of weak challenges before calmly dispatching a shot past keeper Wessel Speel to make it 3-0.
After the break, coach Oliver Glasner took the chance to withdraw several players like Kamada and Wharton. Replacement Romain Esse came close to scoring with his very first touch, only to see his effort blocked.
Esse was desperately unlucky later on, seeing one attempt crash off each posts before being gathered on the line. Uche also missed a glaring chance, showing there is still room for development in his game.
The only concern for Palace was a second-half injury to Justin Devenny, who was forced off. This paved the way for 17-year-old forward Benji Casey to make his first-team debut, rounding off an otherwise perfect night for the visiting side.
