Christantus Uche Sparks Straightforward Palace Win at Irish Side Shelbourne.
Even though embarking on their maiden continental campaign, Oliver Glasner's side are learning at a rapid pace. Without star figures like striker Jean-Philippe Mateta and wing-back Daniel Muñoz, the Eagles left Dublin with a commanding win that all but guarantees them a place in the Europa Conference League qualifying rounds.
Another victory in their upcoming match against Finnish KuPS should be sufficient to secure direct entry to the last 16, especially following a previous setback against Strasbourg.
Fringe Players Seize the Moment
This occasion provided a chance for some of Palace's fringe players to shine. Christantus Uche, making only his second start since joining on loan from Getafe, notched the account with a well-taken finish. Striker Eddie Nketiah contributed a second, scoring for the second consecutive succession.
The Shelbourne side that had concluded their league season proved no match even for a largely second-string Palace lineup. The Londoners were already weakened by the news that Mateta and Muñoz are out with knee injuries.
Control Asserted from the Outset
In spite of heavy rain in Dublin, Palace rapidly took control. A flowing passing sequence in the 11th minute, sparked by Daichi Kamada's clever pass, let Nketiah to set up Uche for a straightforward finish.
Midfielder Adam Wharton went close minutes later, driving a long-range effort over the bar. Nketiah subsequently appealed for a penalty after racing into the box, but the referee dismissed the protests.
Ex-Arsenal striker did not have wait long to get his goal, prodding home from a yard out after Uche's shot had struck the post.
Shelbourne were hanging on for dear life. Full-back Kameron Ledwidge was fortunate to escape a booking for two agricultural tackles on Yeremy Pino, before Chris Richards rattled the crossbar with a header from a corner.
Pino Wraps Up the Contest
The contest was effectively over eight minutes before half-time. Yeremy Pino meandered past a series of comically weak challenges before coolly dispatching a shot past keeper Wessel Speel to extend the lead to 3-0.
After the break, coach Oliver Glasner seized the opportunity to rest key players like Kamada and Wharton. Replacement Romain Esse came close to scoring his very first touch, but saw his shot blocked.
The youngster was incredibly unlucky later on, seeing one attempt strike off both posts before being clasped on the line. Uche also blazed a sitter of a chance, showing there is still room for improvement in his game.
The only concern for Palace was a late knock to Justin Devenny, who limped off. This allowed 17-year-old striker Benji Casey to make his senior debut, rounding off an otherwise positive night for the visiting side.
