Christantus Uche Sparks Straightforward Palace Victory at Shelbourne.
Despite entering their maiden European adventure, Oliver Glasner's side are learning very quickly. Missing star figures like forward Jean-Philippe Mateta and wing-back Daniel Muñoz, the Eagles left Dublin with a comfortable win that virtually guarantees them a spot in the Europa Conference League playoffs.
Another three points in their upcoming match against Finnish KuPS ought to be sufficient to secure direct passage to the last 16, particularly following a prior stumble against Strasbourg.
Fringe Players Seize the Moment
This occasion provided a chance for several Palace's lesser-used players to shine. Christantus Uche, in only his second start after joining on loan from Getafe, opened the scoring with a well-taken finish. Striker Eddie Nketiah contributed a another, finding the net for the second consecutive succession.
A Shelbourne side that had finished their domestic season were outmatched against a mostly rotated Palace outfit. The visitors were further weakened by the news that Mateta and Muñoz are out with leg problems.
Control Asserted from the Start
In spite of torrential rain in Dublin, Palace rapidly established dominance. A slick move in the 11th minute, sparked by Daichi Kamada's clever pass, let Nketiah to set up Uche for a simple finish.
Midfielder Adam Wharton went close minutes later, fizzing a long-range shot over the bar. Nketiah subsequently claimed for a penalty after racing into the box, but the referee dismissed the appeals.
The formerArsenal striker didn't need to wait long to get his goal, prodding home from close range after Uche's shot had hit the post.
The home side were clinging on desperately. Defender Kameron Ledwidge was fortunate to avoid a booking for a couple of robust challenges on Yeremy Pino, before Chris Richards struck the crossbar with a powerful header from a corner.
Pino Seals the Game
The match 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 extend the lead to 3-0.
After the break, coach Oliver Glasner seized the opportunity to withdraw several individuals like Kamada and Wharton. Substitute Romain Esse almost scoring his very first touch, only to see his shot blocked.
The youngster was desperately unlucky later on, seeing one attempt crash off both posts before being gathered on the line. Uche then blazed a sitter of a chance, showing there is still room for improvement in his game.
The only worry for Palace was a second-half injury to Justin Devenny, who was forced off. This paved the way for 17-year-old forward Benji Casey to make his first-team debut, capping an otherwise positive evening for the traveling side.
