🔗 Share this article Uche Fuels Dominant Crystal Palace Triumph at Shelbourne. Despite embarking on their first-ever continental adventure, Oliver Glasner's side are adapting very quickly. Missing star players like striker Jean-Philippe Mateta and wing-back Daniel Muñoz, the London club left Dublin with a comfortable result that all but guarantees them a spot in the Conference League qualifying rounds. A further victory in their next fixture against Finland's KuPS should be sufficient to secure direct passage to the last 16, especially following a prior setback against Strasbourg. Fringe Players Grasp the Moment This match provided a platform for some of Palace's lesser-used players to impress. Christantus Uche, in only his second beginning after arriving on loan from Getafe, notched the account with a clinical finish. Forward Eddie Nketiah added a another, finding the net for the second game in match. The Shelbourne side that had concluded their domestic season were no match even for a largely rotated Palace outfit. The Londoners were already depleted by the news that Mateta and Muñoz are out with knee problems. Control Asserted from the Outset In spite of heavy rain in Dublin, Palace quickly took control. A slick passing sequence in the 11th minute, sparked by Daichi Kamada's incisive pass, let Nketiah to lay on Uche for a simple finish. Midfielder Adam Wharton went close soon after, fizzing a long-range shot over the bar. Nketiah then claimed for a penalty after racing into the area, but the referee waved away the appeals. Ex-Arsenal striker did not have wait long to get his goal, prodding home from close range after Uche's shot had hit the post. Shelbourne were hanging on for dear life. Defender Kameron Ledwidge was fortunate to escape a booking for a couple of agricultural challenges on Yeremy Pino, before Chris Richards rattled the woodwork with a powerful header from a corner. Yeremy Pino Seals the Contest The contest was as good as over eight minutes from half-time. Yeremy Pino weaved past a series of weak challenges before coolly slotting a shot past keeper Wessel Speel to make it 3-0. Following the break, manager Oliver Glasner took the chance to rest key players like Kamada and Wharton. Replacement Romain Esse came close to scoring his very first touch, but saw his shot blocked. Esse was desperately unlucky later on, seeing one shot crash off both posts before being clasped on the line. Uche also blazed a sitter of a chance, showing there is still room for improvement in his game. A solitary concern for Palace was a second-half knock to Justin Devenny, who was forced off. This paved the way for 17-year-old forward Benji Casey to make his senior debut, rounding off an otherwise positive evening for the visiting side.
Despite embarking on their first-ever continental adventure, Oliver Glasner's side are adapting very quickly. Missing star players like striker Jean-Philippe Mateta and wing-back Daniel Muñoz, the London club left Dublin with a comfortable result that all but guarantees them a spot in the Conference League qualifying rounds. A further victory in their next fixture against Finland's KuPS should be sufficient to secure direct passage to the last 16, especially following a prior setback against Strasbourg. Fringe Players Grasp the Moment This match provided a platform for some of Palace's lesser-used players to impress. Christantus Uche, in only his second beginning after arriving on loan from Getafe, notched the account with a clinical finish. Forward Eddie Nketiah added a another, finding the net for the second game in match. The Shelbourne side that had concluded their domestic season were no match even for a largely rotated Palace outfit. The Londoners were already depleted by the news that Mateta and Muñoz are out with knee problems. Control Asserted from the Outset In spite of heavy rain in Dublin, Palace quickly took control. A slick passing sequence in the 11th minute, sparked by Daichi Kamada's incisive pass, let Nketiah to lay on Uche for a simple finish. Midfielder Adam Wharton went close soon after, fizzing a long-range shot over the bar. Nketiah then claimed for a penalty after racing into the area, but the referee waved away the appeals. Ex-Arsenal striker did not have wait long to get his goal, prodding home from close range after Uche's shot had hit the post. Shelbourne were hanging on for dear life. Defender Kameron Ledwidge was fortunate to escape a booking for a couple of agricultural challenges on Yeremy Pino, before Chris Richards rattled the woodwork with a powerful header from a corner. Yeremy Pino Seals the Contest The contest was as good as over eight minutes from half-time. Yeremy Pino weaved past a series of weak challenges before coolly slotting a shot past keeper Wessel Speel to make it 3-0. Following the break, manager Oliver Glasner took the chance to rest key players like Kamada and Wharton. Replacement Romain Esse came close to scoring his very first touch, but saw his shot blocked. Esse was desperately unlucky later on, seeing one shot crash off both posts before being clasped on the line. Uche also blazed a sitter of a chance, showing there is still room for improvement in his game. A solitary concern for Palace was a second-half knock to Justin Devenny, who was forced off. This paved the way for 17-year-old forward Benji Casey to make his senior debut, rounding off an otherwise positive evening for the visiting side.