Christantus Uche Sparks Dominant Palace Victory at Irish Side Shelbourne.
Even though entering their maiden European adventure, Oliver Glasner's side are adapting very quickly. Missing star players like striker Jean-Philippe Mateta and wing-back Daniel Muñoz, the London club left Dublin with a comfortable win that virtually secures them a spot in the Europa Conference League qualifying rounds.
A further three points in their next fixture against Finnish KuPS ought to be sufficient to seal straight entry to the knockout stages, especially after a prior setback against Strasbourg.
Fringe Players Seize the Moment
This match provided a chance for some of Palace's lesser-used players to impress. Christantus Uche, in only his second start after arriving on loan from Getafe, notched the account with a clinical goal. Striker Eddie Nketiah added a another, scoring for the second game in succession.
The Shelbourne side that had concluded their domestic season proved no match against a largely rotated Palace outfit. The Londoners were further depleted by the news that Mateta and Muñoz are out with leg injuries.
Control Established from the Outset
Despite torrential rain in Dublin, Palace rapidly took control. A slick passing sequence in the 11th minute, sparked by Daichi Kamada's incisive pass, allowed Nketiah to lay on Uche for a straightforward finish.
Youngster Adam Wharton went close minutes later, driving a powerful shot over the bar. Nketiah subsequently claimed for a penalty after bursting into the area, but the referee dismissed the appeals.
Ex-Arsenal striker didn't need to wait long to find his goal, tapping home from a yard out after Uche's effort had hit the post.
Shelbourne were hanging on desperately. Full-back Kameron Ledwidge was lucky to avoid a booking for two robust challenges on Yeremy Pino, before Chris Richards struck the crossbar with a header from a corner.
Yeremy Pino Wraps Up the Game
The match was effectively over eight minutes before half-time. Yeremy Pino meandered past some comically weak challenges before coolly slotting a shot past keeper Wessel Speel to make it 3-0.
After the break, coach Oliver Glasner seized the opportunity to rest several individuals like Kamada and Wharton. Substitute Romain Esse almost scoring his very first touch, only to see his effort blocked.
Esse was incredibly unlucky later on, seeing one shot strike off each posts before being gathered on the line. Uche also blazed a glaring chance, showing there is still room for development 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 earn his first-team debut, capping an otherwise perfect night for the traveling side.
