Uche Sparks Comfortable Palace Win at Irish Side Shelbourne.
Even though entering their first-ever European adventure, Oliver Glasner's side are adapting very quickly. Without key players like forward Jean-Philippe Mateta and defender Daniel Muñoz, the Eagles departed Dublin with a commanding win that all but guarantees them a spot in the Europa Conference League playoffs.
A further three points in their next match against Finland's KuPS ought to be enough to seal direct passage to the last 16, particularly after a previous stumble against Strasbourg.
Squad Members Grasp the Moment
This occasion provided a chance for several Palace's fringe talent to shine. Christantus Uche, in only his second start after arriving on loan from Getafe, notched the scoring with a well-taken finish. Striker Eddie Nketiah added a second, scoring for the second game in match.
A Shelbourne side that had concluded their league season were no match even for a largely second-string Palace outfit. The Londoners were already weakened by the reports that Mateta and Muñoz are sidelined with leg injuries.
Dominance Established from the Outset
In spite of heavy rain in Dublin, Palace quickly took control. A flowing move in the 11th minute, sparked by Daichi Kamada's clever pass, allowed Nketiah to lay on Uche for a simple finish.
Youngster Adam Wharton came close soon after, driving a long-range shot over the bar. Nketiah subsequently claimed for a penalty after racing into the area, but the official dismissed the appeals.
Ex-Arsenal striker did not have wait long to get his goal, prodding home from close range after Uche's effort had hit the post.
The home side were clinging on desperately. Defender Kameron Ledwidge was lucky to escape a booking for a couple of agricultural tackles on Yeremy Pino, before Chris Richards struck the crossbar with a powerful header from a corner.
Pino Wraps Up the Contest
The match was effectively over eight minutes from half-time. Yeremy Pino meandered past a series of comically weak challenges before calmly slotting a shot past keeper Wessel Speel to extend the lead to 3-0.
After the break, coach Oliver Glasner took the chance to withdraw key individuals like Kamada and Wharton. Substitute Romain Esse almost scoring with his first touch, only to see his shot blocked.
The youngster was incredibly unlucky later on, seeing one shot crash off each posts before being clasped on the line. Uche then missed a glaring chance, showing there is still room for improvement in his game.
The only worry for Palace was a second-half knock to Justin Devenny, who limped off. This paved the way for 17-year-old forward Benji Casey to make his first-team debut, capping an otherwise positive night for the traveling side.