🔗 Share this article Christantus Uche Sparks Straightforward Palace Triumph at Shelbourne. Despite embarking on their maiden European adventure, 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 commanding win that virtually secures them a place in the Conference League playoffs. Another three points in their next fixture against Finland's KuPS should be enough to seal direct passage to the last 16, particularly after a previous setback against Strasbourg. Squad Members Grasp the Opportunity This match offered a chance for some of Palace's lesser-used talent to impress. Christantus Uche, making only his second beginning after arriving on loan from Getafe, opened the scoring with a clinical finish. Forward Eddie Nketiah added a another, scoring for the second game in succession. A Shelbourne team that had concluded their league season were no match even for a largely rotated Palace lineup. The visitors were further depleted by the news that Mateta and Muñoz are out with leg injuries. Control Asserted from the Start Despite heavy rain in Dublin, Palace rapidly took control. A slick passing sequence in the 11th minute, initiated by Daichi Kamada's incisive pass, let Nketiah to lay on Uche for a simple finish. Youngster Adam Wharton went close soon after, driving a powerful effort over the bar. Nketiah subsequently appealed for a penalty after racing into the area, but the referee dismissed the appeals. The formerArsenal man did not have wait long to get his goal, tapping home from a yard out after Uche's effort had hit the post. Shelbourne were hanging on for dear life. Full-back Kameron Ledwidge was lucky to escape a booking for two robust challenges on Yeremy Pino, before Chris Richards struck the crossbar with a header from a corner. Yeremy Pino Seals the Game The contest was effectively over eight minutes before half-time. Yeremy Pino meandered past some comically weak challenges before coolly slotting a shot past keeper Wessel Speel to make it 3-0. Following the break, coach Oliver Glasner took the chance to rest several players like Kamada and Wharton. Replacement Romain Esse almost scoring with his very first touch, only to see his shot blocked. Esse was desperately unlucky later on, seeing one shot crash off each posts before being gathered on the line. Uche also missed a glaring chance, indicating there is still scope for development in his game. A solitary worry for Palace was a late injury to Justin Devenny, who was forced off. This allowed 17-year-old striker Benji Casey to make his first-team debut, rounding off an otherwise perfect night for the traveling side.
Despite embarking on their maiden European adventure, 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 commanding win that virtually secures them a place in the Conference League playoffs. Another three points in their next fixture against Finland's KuPS should be enough to seal direct passage to the last 16, particularly after a previous setback against Strasbourg. Squad Members Grasp the Opportunity This match offered a chance for some of Palace's lesser-used talent to impress. Christantus Uche, making only his second beginning after arriving on loan from Getafe, opened the scoring with a clinical finish. Forward Eddie Nketiah added a another, scoring for the second game in succession. A Shelbourne team that had concluded their league season were no match even for a largely rotated Palace lineup. The visitors were further depleted by the news that Mateta and Muñoz are out with leg injuries. Control Asserted from the Start Despite heavy rain in Dublin, Palace rapidly took control. A slick passing sequence in the 11th minute, initiated by Daichi Kamada's incisive pass, let Nketiah to lay on Uche for a simple finish. Youngster Adam Wharton went close soon after, driving a powerful effort over the bar. Nketiah subsequently appealed for a penalty after racing into the area, but the referee dismissed the appeals. The formerArsenal man did not have wait long to get his goal, tapping home from a yard out after Uche's effort had hit the post. Shelbourne were hanging on for dear life. Full-back Kameron Ledwidge was lucky to escape a booking for two robust challenges on Yeremy Pino, before Chris Richards struck the crossbar with a header from a corner. Yeremy Pino Seals the Game The contest was effectively over eight minutes before half-time. Yeremy Pino meandered past some comically weak challenges before coolly slotting a shot past keeper Wessel Speel to make it 3-0. Following the break, coach Oliver Glasner took the chance to rest several players like Kamada and Wharton. Replacement Romain Esse almost scoring with his very first touch, only to see his shot blocked. Esse was desperately unlucky later on, seeing one shot crash off each posts before being gathered on the line. Uche also missed a glaring chance, indicating there is still scope for development in his game. A solitary worry for Palace was a late injury to Justin Devenny, who was forced off. This allowed 17-year-old striker Benji Casey to make his first-team debut, rounding off an otherwise perfect night for the traveling side.