“Uche showed what he can really do” says Glasner after Palace cruise past Shelbourne
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner praised Christantus Uche for delivering a breakout performance in Dublin, after the youngster inspired a dominant 3-0 win over Shelbourne that keeps the Premier League side within touching distance of a top-eight Conference League finish. The result places Palace firmly in the chase to avoid February’s playoff round.
Palace entered the night sitting ninth in the league-phase standings with nine points, one behind a clustered group battling for the final automatic qualification spots. With only one match remaining, a home fixture against KuPS of Finland, Glasner’s side needed a statement performance to keep pressure on the clubs ahead of them. Shelbourne, meanwhile, had not won any of their four previous games in this phase and had not played competitive domestic football since November, leaving them vulnerable against top-flight opposition.
Palace wasted no time asserting control. In only the 11th minute, Marc Guehi picked out Daichi Kamada in midfield and the Japanese playmaker sliced open the Shelbourne back line with a pass that released Eddie Nketiah down the left. Nketiah cut the ball back to the arriving Uche, who calmly guided his finish past Wessel Speel. Glasner later described the moment as proof of Uche’s growing confidence, adding that the forward has been “knocking on the door for weeks.”
A second goal arrived in the 25th minute and it again stemmed from Palace’s sharp movement between the lines. Yeremy Pino slipped Uche into space with another precise through-ball. The striker lifted a delicate chip over the advancing keeper that kissed the post, leaving Nketiah to react quickest and convert the rebound. The sequence highlighted the fluidity in Palace’s front line, a tactical shift Glasner has encouraged by encouraging early combinations around the penalty area.
Shelbourne looked overwhelmed by the pace and precision of Palace’s transitions. Their lack of recent competitive action was evident in their defensive timing, and a third goal soon punished their hesitation. With 37 minutes played, Pino surged towards the edge of the box and drilled a driven effort into the bottom corner. It was a goal that underlined why the Spaniard continues to attract interest from top European scouts.
Palace nearly added a fourth early in the second half when Uche closed down a Speel clearance and the loose ball fell for Nketiah, only for the goalkeeper to scramble across and block. Chris Richards had also struck the crossbar from a corner earlier, highlighting the extent of Palace’s control. Shelbourne eventually managed a rare attacking moment when Kerr McInroy delivered a low cross that was inches beyond Sean Boyd’s sliding reach at the far post.
The closest Palace came to another goal came through substitute Romain Esse, whose low shot cannoned off one post, rolled across the line, hit the opposite post, and somehow stayed out. It was the kind of near miss that often fuels late drama, but Shelbourne lacked the sharpness to capitalize. Uche then missed a clear chance for his second, spinning inside the box before firing over from close range.
Palace’s stand-in goalkeeper Walter Benitez was finally called on in stoppage time, reacting quickly to keep out Daniel Kelly after a deep free kick was flicked into the danger area. It was one of the few moments where Palace was forced to defend under pressure.
This victory does more than keep Palace mathematically alive in the top-eight chase. It demonstrates the tactical clarity that Glasner has been building since the start of the season. The interplay between Uche, Nketiah, and Pino looked polished, and the team’s midfield press consistently disrupted Shelbourne’s structure. The question now is whether Palace can replicate this level of intensity against a KuPS side that has been far more competitive than their league position suggests.
Another looming subplot surrounds Uche himself. With this being his first start and first goal for the club, his performance raises questions about his role moving forward. Will Glasner trust him from the start in the decisive final fixture, or does the teenager remain an impact option off the bench?
Palace leave Dublin with momentum, confidence, and a clear path toward the top eight. A win against KuPS could reshape their entire season and spare them the complications of a February playoff round. What began as a routine group fixture has suddenly become a decisive moment in their European campaign.