WATCH: Uche scores sublime goal to give Crystal Palace lead in Conference League
It was the perfect start for a much-changed Palace at Selhurst Park
Christantus Uche scored a wonderful individual goal to give a much-changed Crystal Palace side the early advantage in their Conference League clash against Finnish side KuPS at Selhurst Park.
Palace boss Oliver Glasner made 11 changes to the team that started against Manchester City last weekend and the additions made their mark almost immediately.
Inside the first five minutes, Uche picked up the ball on the edge of the box after a neat passing move out wide.
The Nigerian cut inside with his left foot to open up a shooting opportunity before curling a sumptuous effort into the far corner with the outside of his right.
From there, it was one-way traffic. The hosts, handing several young academy graduates their first-team debuts, dominated the opening 45 minutes and had a handful of chances to increase the lead.
But it was Uche’s strike that proved to be the difference at the break on the final evening of Conference League group-stage action, with Glasner’s men looking to secure a top-eight finish and automatic qualification to the next phase of the competition.
Crystal Palace team news
Palace are without Daichi Kamada due to the hamstring injury he suffered against City.
Daniel Munoz (knee) remains unavailable, along with Cheick Doucoure, Chadi Riad (both knee), Rio Cardines (groin) and Caleb Kporha (back).
Glasner has made 11 changes to the starting XI from the City game.
Centre-back George King, wing-back Dean Benamar and winger Joel Drakes-Thomas all make their senior debuts.
Walter Benitez replaces Dean Henderson in goal, while Jefferson Lerma captains Palace for the first time.
Crystal Palace: Benitez, Canvot, Lerma, King, Benamar, Rodney, Devenny, Sosa, Drake-Thomas, Esse, Uche.
Substitutes: Henderson (GK), Matthews (GK), Guéhi, Richards, Lacroix, Mitchell, Hughes, Wharton, Pino, Casey, Nketiah, Mateta.
KuPS team news
KuPS: Kreidl, Hamalainen, Cisse, Miettinen, Antwi, Ruoppi, Arifi, Oksanen, Savolainen, Parzyszek, Pennanen.
Substitutes: Armah, Golubickas, Hakala, Konate, Lotjonen, Luyeye-Lutumba, Pitkanen, Ricardo, Sadiku, Toure, Voutilainen.
How to watch Crystal Palace v KuPs
Crystal Palace v KuPS kicks off at 8pm UK time. It will be broadcast on TNT Sports 1.
It can be streamed via Discovery Plus. Sky customers with a TNT package can also stream the game via Sky Go.