Christantus Uche Fuels Straightforward Palace Win at Irish Side Shelbourne.
Even though entering their maiden continental campaign, Crystal Palace are adapting very quickly. Missing star players like striker Jean-Philippe Mateta and defender Daniel Muñoz, the Eagles left Dublin with a comfortable result that virtually guarantees them a spot in the Conference League qualifying rounds.
Another victory in their next match against Finland's KuPS should be sufficient to secure direct entry to the last 16, especially following a prior setback against Strasbourg.
Squad Members Grasp the Moment
This occasion provided a chance for some of Palace's lesser-used talent to impress. Christantus Uche, in only his second beginning after arriving on loan from Getafe, notched the account with a clinical finish. Striker Eddie Nketiah added a another, finding the net for the second consecutive succession.
The Shelbourne side that had concluded their domestic season proved no match even for a mostly rotated Palace lineup. The Londoners were already depleted by the reports that Mateta and Muñoz are sidelined with knee injuries.
Dominance Asserted from the Outset
In spite of heavy rain in Dublin, Palace quickly took control. A flowing passing sequence in the 11th minute, initiated by Daichi Kamada's clever pass, allowed Nketiah to lay on Uche for a simple tap-in.
Youngster Adam Wharton went close soon after, driving a long-range shot over the bar. Nketiah subsequently claimed for a penalty after racing into the box, but the referee waved away the protests.
The formerArsenal striker didn't need to wait long to get his goal, prodding home from close range after Uche's shot had struck the post.
The home side were hanging on for dear life. Defender Kameron Ledwidge was fortunate to avoid a booking for two robust challenges on Yeremy Pino, before Chris Richards rattled the crossbar with a powerful header from a corner.
Pino Seals the Game
The contest was as good as over eight minutes from half-time. Yeremy Pino weaved past a series of weak challenges before calmly slotting a shot past goalkeeper Wessel Speel to make it 3-0.
After the break, manager Oliver Glasner took the chance to rest several players like Kamada and Wharton. Replacement Romain Esse almost scoring with his first touch, only to see his shot blocked.
Esse was incredibly unlucky later on, seeing one attempt crash off both posts before being gathered on the line. Uche then missed a glaring chance, showing there is still scope for improvement in his game.
The only concern for Palace was a late injury to Justin Devenny, who limped off. This paved the way for 17-year-old forward Benji Casey to earn his first-team debut, capping an otherwise positive evening for the visiting side.
