Eagles Cut Loose: Palace Put Shelbourne to the Sword in Dublin

Crystal Palace made light work of Shelbourne with a no-fuss 3-0 win at Tallaght Stadium, a result that leaves Oliver Glasner’s men right on the cusp of the Conference League knockouts. They’re still chasing the clean route to the Round of 16 — top the section to be among the eight group winners — which means beating KuPS next Thursday and hoping another result tilts their way.

It was done and dusted by the interval. Christantus Uche struck first on 10 minutes, tucking away after neat interplay from Daichi Kamada and Eddie Nketiah. Uche then rattled a post and Nketiah did what poachers do, sweeping home the rebound into an empty net. Yeremy Pino supplied the flourish before half-time, gliding infield and drilling low into the far corner to make it three.

At long last, Palace showed the clinical streak they’ve been crying out for — chances taken, game killed, no drama.

Ruthlessness we’ve been begging for

Too often this season Palace have played the football but fluffed their lines — just think of those bruisers against Everton and Strasbourg. Not here. A rotated front line — Pino, Nketiah, Uche — cashed in, converting three goals off roughly 2.83 xG. Yes, the opposition were limited, but you can only beat what’s put in front of you, and the Eagles finally stamped on a tie when it mattered.

Uche grabs the mic

Injuries up top cracked the door open and Uche barged through it. After a lively cameo in the late win at Fulham, he led the line with purpose and nicked his first Palace goal with that instinctive early finish. He peppered the box whenever it dropped for him, nearly turning provider when he squared for Romain Esse — agonisingly, the shot pinged off both posts and out. Not perfect: later he chopped inside beautifully and then skied one he should have hit the target with. But he was brave, busy and backed himself — even revving the away end at full-time.

Pino the conductor, Nketiah the finisher

Pino only needed 45 minutes to run the show. His crossing and link play with the midfield gave Shelbourne nightmares, and that slaloming strike showcased the class Palace fans know is there. If he adds consistent goals to the dribbles and craft, he’s the missing jigsaw piece. As for Nketiah, he’s up to four goals in just 428 minutes — classic striker’s instincts for the second, alive to the rebound and ruthless from two yards.

Debut delight for Benji Casey

There was a late bow for 17-year-old Benji Casey, on for the injured Justin Devenny with ten to play. The academy hotshot — 15 in 21 at youth level — didn’t look overawed: clever use of the body to draw a foul on the break, then alert work to nod away a corner at the back post. He’s the second youngster blooded in this competition after Rio Cardines’ cameo away to Dynamo Kyiv. Glasner later noted he loves Casey’s energy and pace, and felt the youngster had earned a reward with first-team minutes.

What it means

Palace have all but punched their knockout ticket, and there’s a clear incentive now: beat KuPS next Thursday and they could dodge the February play-off and head straight to the last 16 — if the other result falls kindly. After a night like this, you’d back them to bring the same edge when it matters most.

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