Christantus Uche Sparks Comfortable Palace Win at Irish Side Shelbourne.
Even though entering their maiden continental adventure, Oliver Glasner's side are adapting very quickly. Missing star players like forward Jean-Philippe Mateta and defender Daniel Muñoz, the London club left Dublin with a commanding win that all but guarantees them a spot in the Europa Conference League playoffs.
A further three points in their next 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 Seize the Opportunity
This occasion offered a chance for several Palace's lesser-used players to shine. Christantus Uche, making only his second beginning since arriving on loan from Getafe, notched the account with a well-taken goal. Striker Eddie Nketiah added a second, scoring for the second consecutive match.
A Shelbourne side that had concluded their domestic season proved no match even for a mostly second-string Palace lineup. The visitors were further depleted by the news that Mateta and Muñoz are sidelined with knee injuries.
Dominance Established from the Outset
Despite torrential rain in Dublin, Palace quickly established dominance. A slick passing sequence in the 11th minute, initiated by Daichi Kamada's clever pass, allowed Nketiah to set up Uche for a straightforward tap-in.
Midfielder Adam Wharton came close soon after, fizzing a long-range effort over the bar. Nketiah subsequently appealed for a penalty after racing into the box, but the referee waved away the protests.
Ex-Arsenal striker did not have wait long to get his goal, tapping home from a yard out after Uche's shot had struck the post.
The home side were hanging on for dear life. Full-back Kameron Ledwidge was fortunate to escape a booking for two agricultural challenges on Yeremy Pino, before Chris Richards rattled the woodwork with a powerful header from a corner.
Pino Seals the Game
The contest was effectively over eight minutes before half-time. Yeremy Pino meandered past a series of weak challenges before calmly slotting a shot past goalkeeper Wessel Speel to make it 3-0.
Following the break, manager Oliver Glasner seized the opportunity to rest several individuals like Kamada and Wharton. Substitute Romain Esse came close to scoring with his first touch, but saw his effort blocked.
Esse was incredibly unlucky later on, seeing one shot crash off both posts before being clasped on the line. Uche then blazed a sitter of a chance, showing there is still room for development in his game.
The only worry for Palace was a late knock to Justin Devenny, who limped off. This allowed 17-year-old forward Benji Casey to earn his first-team debut, capping an otherwise positive night for the traveling side.
