Uche Ignites Comfortable Crystal Palace Win at Irish Side Shelbourne.
Despite entering their first-ever European adventure, Crystal Palace are learning at a rapid pace. Without key figures like striker Jean-Philippe Mateta and defender Daniel Muñoz, the Eagles left Dublin with a comfortable win that all but secures them a spot in the Europa Conference League qualifying rounds.
A further victory in their next match against Finland's KuPS should be enough to secure straight entry to the last 16, especially following a prior stumble against Strasbourg.
Squad Members Grasp the Moment
This match provided a platform for some of Palace's lesser-used talent to impress. Christantus Uche, making only his second start since arriving on loan from Getafe, notched the account with a well-taken goal. Striker Eddie Nketiah added a another, finding the net for the second consecutive succession.
A Shelbourne team that had finished their league season proved outmatched against a mostly rotated Palace outfit. The Londoners were already depleted by the reports that Mateta and Muñoz are out with knee injuries.
Dominance Asserted from the Outset
In spite of torrential rain in Dublin, Palace quickly took control. A slick move in the 11th minute, initiated by Daichi Kamada's clever pass, let Nketiah to set up Uche for a straightforward tap-in.
Midfielder Adam Wharton went close minutes later, driving a long-range effort over the bar. Nketiah subsequently appealed for a penalty after bursting into the area, but the referee dismissed the appeals.
The formerArsenal 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 for dear life. Defender Kameron Ledwidge was fortunate to avoid a booking for two robust tackles on Yeremy Pino, before Chris Richards struck the crossbar with a powerful header from a corner.
Yeremy Pino Seals the Game
The contest was as good as over eight minutes before half-time. Yeremy Pino meandered past some comically weak challenges before calmly dispatching a shot past goalkeeper Wessel Speel to make it 3-0.
Following the break, coach Oliver Glasner took the chance to rest key individuals like Kamada and Wharton. Substitute Romain Esse came close to scoring his first touch, but saw his effort blocked.
Esse was incredibly unlucky later on, seeing one attempt crash off both posts before being clasped on the line. Uche also blazed a glaring chance, showing there is still room for development in his game.
A solitary worry for Palace was a second-half knock to Justin Devenny, who was forced off. This allowed 17-year-old forward Benji Casey to make his first-team debut, capping an otherwise positive evening for the traveling side.
