Christantus Uche Sparks Straightforward Crystal Palace Victory at Shelbourne.
Even though entering their maiden continental campaign, Oliver Glasner's side are learning very quickly. Missing star figures like forward Jean-Philippe Mateta and wing-back Daniel Muñoz, the Eagles left Dublin with a comfortable win that all but secures them a place in the Conference League playoffs.
A further three points in their upcoming match against Finnish KuPS should be enough to seal straight passage to the knockout stages, especially after a previous stumble against Strasbourg.
Fringe Players Seize the Moment
This match provided a chance for several Palace's fringe talent to shine. Christantus Uche, in only his second start since joining on loan from Getafe, notched the account with a clinical goal. Forward Eddie Nketiah contributed a second, finding the net for the second consecutive match.
A Shelbourne team that had concluded their domestic season were outmatched even for a mostly second-string Palace outfit. The Londoners were further depleted by the reports that Mateta and Muñoz are out with knee problems.
Dominance Established from the Start
In spite of torrential rain in Dublin, Palace quickly took control. A flowing passing sequence in the 11th minute, sparked by Daichi Kamada's clever pass, allowed Nketiah to set up Uche for a straightforward finish.
Midfielder Adam Wharton came close soon after, fizzing a powerful effort over the bar. Nketiah subsequently appealed for a penalty after bursting into the area, but the referee waved away the protests.
Ex-Arsenal striker did not have wait long to get his goal, prodding home from a yard out after Uche's effort had hit the post.
The home side were clinging on desperately. Defender Kameron Ledwidge was lucky to avoid a booking for a couple of agricultural tackles on Yeremy Pino, before Chris Richards struck the crossbar with a powerful header from a corner.
Yeremy Pino Seals the Contest
The match was effectively over eight minutes before half-time. Yeremy Pino meandered past some comically weak challenges before coolly dispatching a shot past goalkeeper Wessel Speel to make it 3-0.
After the break, coach Oliver Glasner took the chance to rest several players like Kamada and Wharton. Substitute Romain Esse came close to scoring with his first touch, only to see his shot blocked.
Esse was incredibly unlucky later on, seeing one shot strike off each posts before being clasped on the line. Uche also missed a sitter of a chance, showing there is still scope for development in his game.
A solitary concern for Palace was a second-half injury to Justin Devenny, who limped off. This paved the way for 17-year-old striker Benji Casey to earn his senior debut, capping an otherwise positive night for the visiting side.
