Uche Sparks Straightforward Crystal Palace Victory at Shelbourne.
Even though embarking on their maiden continental campaign, Oliver Glasner's side are learning at a rapid pace. Without star players like striker Jean-Philippe Mateta and wing-back Daniel Muñoz, the London club left Dublin with a comfortable win that all but secures them a spot in the Conference League qualifying rounds.
Another victory in their next match against Finnish KuPS ought to be enough to secure direct passage to the knockout stages, especially after a previous setback against Strasbourg.
Squad Members Seize the Moment
This match provided a chance for several Palace's fringe players to impress. Christantus Uche, in only his second beginning after joining on loan from Getafe, opened the account with a well-taken finish. Forward Eddie Nketiah added a second, scoring for the second consecutive succession.
A Shelbourne side that had concluded their league season proved no match against a largely rotated Palace outfit. The Londoners were further weakened by the reports that Mateta and Muñoz are out with knee problems.
Control Asserted from the Start
Despite torrential rain in Dublin, Palace quickly took control. A flowing move in the 11th minute, sparked by Daichi Kamada's clever pass, let Nketiah to set up Uche for a simple finish.
Midfielder Adam Wharton came close soon after, driving a long-range effort over the bar. Nketiah subsequently appealed for a penalty after bursting into the box, but the official dismissed the protests.
The formerArsenal man didn't need to wait long to find his goal, tapping home from a yard out after Uche's shot had struck the post.
Shelbourne were clinging on for dear life. Defender Kameron Ledwidge was fortunate to escape a booking for a couple of robust challenges on Yeremy Pino, before Chris Richards rattled the woodwork with a powerful header from a corner.
Yeremy Pino Wraps Up the Game
The match was as good as over eight minutes from half-time. Yeremy Pino weaved past some comically weak challenges before coolly dispatching a shot past keeper Wessel Speel to make it 3-0.
After the break, coach Oliver Glasner seized the opportunity to rest key players like Kamada and Wharton. Substitute Romain Esse came close to scoring with his very first touch, only to see his shot blocked.
Esse was incredibly unlucky later on, seeing one attempt strike off each posts before being clasped on the line. Uche then blazed a sitter of a chance, indicating there is still scope for improvement in his game.
A solitary 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, capping an otherwise perfect evening for the visiting side.
