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‘Ruthless’ Christantus Uche Shines in Crystal Palace 3-0 Win vs Shelbourne
Crystal Palace all but booked their spot in the knockout phase of the Conference League with a 3-0 win over Shelbourne.
Victory in Ireland means Palace remain in the frame to finish in the top eight and automatically reach the Round of 16, avoiding a play-off match in February. However, Oliver Glasner’s side would need to beat Finnish side KuPS on the final matchday next Thursday and hope other results go their way.
Christantus Uche netted his first Palace goal, feasting off a tidy bit of link-up play between Daichi Kamada and Eddie Nketiah to finish first time with his right foot in the tenth minute.The Eagles waited just 15 minutes to double their lead, with Uche hitting the post. The rebound fell to Nketiah, who tapped into an empty net.
Yeremy Pino made it three before the break, topping off a wonderful solo move as he drilled into the bottom corner. Palace did the job in the first half and were able to cruise after the break, comfortably seeing out their three-goal win.
Here are Bobby Manzi’s talking points from the Tallaght Stadium.
Palace Demonstrate Rare Ruthlessness
For all of Palace’s class this season, they have lacked killer instinct in front of goal. There have been countless occasions – defeats against Everton and Strasbourg come to mind – where Palace’s absence of a clinical edge has proved costly.
The theme of the season has been totting up Palace’s missed first-half chances and watching it come back to bite them after the break. However, their trip to Ireland marked a swing in their fortunes.
Glasner’s rotated side wrapped the tie up before the break, bagging three times from 2.83xG. Yeremy Pino, Eddie Nketiah and the elusive Christantus Uche led Palace’s atypical attack and impressed, as they should, considering the class of the opposition.
All three scored. Pino, despite playing just 45 minutes, was the conductor of the orchestra. Producing chances with his crosses into the box and silky link-up play with the two centre-midfielders. His goal was a moment of pure class as he received the ball in midfield and exhibited his alluring quality, carrying the ball into the penalty area before drilling into the bottom corner with his right foot.
The 23-year-old has already produced plenty of impressive moments in a Palace shirt, particularly with his dribbling and link-up play, but has left those of a Palace persuasion wanting more in front of goal. His finish against Shelbourne – his third of the season – was a reminder of his natural quality.
If he can start finding the net more consistently, he could fill the crucial piece of the puzzle in Palace’s season. Palace’s back-up striker Nketiah scored his fourth goal in 428 minutes of football – a real poacher’s finish as he latched onto Uche’s strike, which rattled the post, and tapped into an empty net from a virtually unmissable position.
Palace needed proof they could take their chances – they finally got it.
Uche Takes the First Step to Proving Himself
An individual who needed to take their chance was Uche. The Nigerian international has been out of favour since joining Palace from Getafe on loan on Deadline Day.
Injuries in attack opened the door for Uche over the past week. It has been an opportunity he has relished, making a positive impact as a substitute in the final 25 minutes of Palace’s late win at Fulham, before starting and scoring against Shelbourne.
Glasner demands that his players contribute to the collective, proving to the group that they can help win games of football. Uche demonstrated that.
Any time the ball fell to him in and around the penalty area, he tried to get a shot away – even when the likelihood of scoring was minimal. Uche had his moment, scoring his first Palace goal with an instinctive first-time strike inside the area with a nice finish to give Palace the lead.
He was determined and tenacious, leading the line confidently. There was almost a perfect moment when Uche unselfishly shifted the ball to Romain Esse, but his shot rattled both posts and bounced out to deny the out-of-favour duo a confidence-boosting combination.
He required more composure when Justin Devenny and Romain Esse combined on the left to slot him through. He did the hard bit and chopped onto his right to beat the defender, but fired over the bar from close range when a shot on target would have added Palace’s fourth.
For someone limited for minutes, he isn’t limited for front, revving the crowd three times at full time.
Benji Casey Makes Palace Bow
Benji Casey earned his Crystal Palace debut, coming on with 10 minutes to play and replacing the injured Justin Devenny. The 17-year-old centre-forward, who has scored 15 goals in 21 appearances for Palace’s youth team, slotted in between Christantus Uche and Romain Esse.
He was clever when using his body, drawing a foul on the break. He also showed defensive acumen, clearing a corner at the back post. Casey became the second academy prospect to earn his professional debut in the Conference League, following Rio Cardines – who came on away at Dynamo Kyiv.
Glasner explained it was the right moment to give Casey the nod as a reward for his consistency with Palace’s academy sides, having capably stepped up to the Under-21s after signing his first professional contract in October.
“I like that Benji Casey is so active. He’s got good pace and scores a lot of goals. We wanted to reward him and that’s why he got a few minutes.”
Crystal Palace Boss Oliver Glasner Confirms 15 Senior Players Available to Face Shelbourne
Crystal Palace have taken a brutal hit to their squad ahead of their Conference League match against Irish side Shelbourne.
