Uche Sparks Comfortable Palace Victory at Irish Side Shelbourne.
Despite embarking on their maiden continental campaign, Oliver Glasner's side are learning very quickly. Missing key players like forward Jean-Philippe Mateta and wing-back Daniel Muñoz, the London club departed Dublin with a comfortable result that all but secures them a spot in the Conference League playoffs.
Another three points in their next match against Finland's KuPS ought to be enough to seal direct entry to the last 16, particularly after a previous setback against Strasbourg.
Fringe Players Grasp the Opportunity
This occasion provided a platform for some of Palace's lesser-used players to impress. Christantus Uche, in only his second beginning since arriving on loan from Getafe, opened the account with a clinical finish. Striker Eddie Nketiah added a another, scoring for the second game in succession.
A Shelbourne side that had concluded their league season were outmatched even for a largely rotated Palace lineup. The visitors were already weakened by the reports that Mateta and Muñoz are out with leg problems.
Control Asserted from the Start
In spite of heavy rain in Dublin, Palace rapidly established dominance. A slick move in the 11th minute, sparked by Daichi Kamada's incisive pass, let Nketiah to lay on Uche for a straightforward finish.
Midfielder Adam Wharton went close minutes later, fizzing a powerful shot over the bar. Nketiah then appealed for a penalty after racing into the box, but the official waved away the appeals.
The formerArsenal striker did not have wait long to find his goal, tapping home from a yard out after Uche's effort had struck the post.
Shelbourne were hanging on desperately. Defender Kameron Ledwidge was lucky to avoid a booking for a couple of agricultural challenges on Yeremy Pino, before Chris Richards struck the woodwork with a header from a corner.
Yeremy Pino Seals the Contest
The contest was effectively over eight minutes from half-time. Yeremy Pino meandered past a series of weak challenges before calmly slotting a shot past keeper Wessel Speel to make it 3-0.
After the break, coach Oliver Glasner took the chance to rest several players like Kamada and Wharton. Substitute Romain Esse almost scoring his first touch, only to see his shot blocked.
The youngster was incredibly unlucky later on, seeing one shot strike off each posts before being clasped on the line. Uche then blazed a sitter of a chance, showing there is still scope for improvement in his game.
The only worry for Palace was a second-half knock to Justin Devenny, who limped off. This allowed 17-year-old forward Benji Casey to earn his first-team debut, rounding off an otherwise perfect evening for the traveling side.
