Uche Fuels Comfortable Palace Victory at Shelbourne.
Even though entering their first-ever continental campaign, 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 place in the Europa Conference League playoffs.
Another victory in their upcoming match against Finland's KuPS ought to be enough to secure direct passage to the knockout stages, especially following a prior stumble against Strasbourg.
Squad Members Grasp the Moment
This match offered a platform for some of Palace's fringe players to impress. Christantus Uche, making only his second start after arriving on loan from Getafe, notched the account with a clinical finish. Forward Eddie Nketiah added a second, scoring for the second consecutive succession.
A Shelbourne side that had concluded their domestic season proved no match against a largely rotated Palace outfit. The visitors were further depleted by the reports that Mateta and Muñoz are sidelined with knee injuries.
Dominance Established from the Outset
In spite of heavy rain in Dublin, Palace quickly took control. A slick passing sequence in the 11th minute, sparked by Daichi Kamada's clever pass, allowed Nketiah to lay on Uche for a simple tap-in.
Midfielder Adam Wharton went close minutes later, fizzing a long-range effort over the bar. Nketiah then claimed for a penalty after racing into the box, but the official dismissed the appeals.
Ex-Arsenal striker did not have wait long to find his goal, prodding home from close range after Uche's effort had struck the post.
The home side were hanging on desperately. Full-back Kameron Ledwidge was lucky to avoid a booking for a couple of agricultural challenges on Yeremy Pino, before Chris Richards rattled the woodwork with a powerful header from a corner.
Yeremy Pino Wraps Up the Contest
The contest was effectively over eight minutes from 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 withdraw key individuals 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 shot strike off each posts before being clasped on the line. Uche also blazed a sitter of a chance, indicating 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 paved the way for 17-year-old striker Benji Casey to earn his senior debut, capping an otherwise positive evening for the traveling side.
