Uche Ignites Dominant Palace Victory at Irish Side Shelbourne.
Despite embarking on their maiden continental campaign, Crystal Palace are learning very quickly. Missing key players like striker Jean-Philippe Mateta and defender Daniel Muñoz, the London club departed Dublin with a comfortable result that all but secures them a place in the Europa Conference League qualifying rounds.
A further victory in their next fixture against Finland's KuPS should be enough to secure straight passage to the last 16, especially after a previous stumble against Strasbourg.
Squad Members Grasp the Moment
This occasion provided a platform for some of Palace's fringe talent to shine. Christantus Uche, making only his second start since joining on loan from Getafe, notched the account with a well-taken finish. Striker Eddie Nketiah contributed a second, finding the net for the second consecutive succession.
A Shelbourne side that had concluded their domestic season were outmatched even for a largely second-string Palace outfit. The Londoners were further depleted by the reports that Mateta and Muñoz are out with knee injuries.
Control Asserted from the Start
Despite heavy rain in Dublin, Palace rapidly took control. A flowing move in the 11th minute, initiated by Daichi Kamada's clever pass, let Nketiah to lay on Uche for a simple tap-in.
Midfielder Adam Wharton came close soon after, fizzing a powerful shot over the bar. Nketiah subsequently claimed for a penalty after racing into the area, but the referee waved away the appeals.
Ex-Arsenal man didn't need to wait long to get his goal, tapping home from close range after Uche's shot had hit the post.
The home side were hanging on for dear life. Full-back 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 header from a corner.
Yeremy Pino Wraps Up the Contest
The contest was as good as over eight minutes before half-time. Yeremy Pino weaved past some comically weak challenges before calmly slotting a shot past keeper Wessel Speel to make it 3-0.
Following 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 effort blocked.
The youngster was desperately unlucky later on, seeing one shot crash off both posts before being gathered on the line. Uche also blazed a glaring chance, showing there is still scope for development in his game.
The only concern 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 perfect evening for the traveling side.
