Crystal Palace delivered a masterclass in clinical finishing and defensive resilience to secure a convincing 3-0 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage, booking their place in the FA Cup semi-finals. Goals from Eberechi Eze, Ismaïla Sarr, and substitute Eddie Nketiah highlighted a performance that showcased Palace’s growing prowess under manager Oliver Glasner, leaving Fulham stunned despite their early dominance.
The match, an all-Premier League affair in the FA Cup quarter-finals, began with Fulham asserting control. The home side, buoyed by a raucous crowd, dictated the tempo in the opening half-hour, creating several promising opportunities. Calvin Bassey linked up brilliantly with Willian, whose cross found Andreas Pereira in the box, only for the midfielder to drag his shot wide. Moments later, Rodrigo Muniz squandered a golden chance, failing to capitalize on Fulham’s high possession and energy. Palace, however, remained unperturbed, absorbing pressure with a disciplined back five that frustrated Marco Silva’s men.
The turning point came in the 34th minute when Eberechi Eze, fresh off scoring his first England goal earlier in the week, unleashed a moment of magic. Picking up the ball just outside the penalty area, the Palace playmaker danced past a hesitant Fulham defense before curling an unstoppable shot past Bernd Leno. The strike, against the run of play, silenced the Craven Cottage faithful and shifted the momentum decisively.
Just four minutes later, Palace doubled their lead with a devastating counter-attack. Eze turned provider this time, threading a precise pass to Ismaïla Sarr, who continued his red-hot form by slotting the ball home with composure. The quickfire double left Fulham reeling, their earlier dominance undone by Palace’s ruthless efficiency. Jefferson Lerma nearly made it three before halftime, his thunderous effort rattling the woodwork, but the Eagles had already done enough to assert their authority.
The second half saw Fulham throw everything forward in search of a lifeline. Substitutes Raúl Jiménez and Ryan Sessegnon injected fresh legs, while Antonee Robinson and Willian continued to pepper the Palace box with crosses. Yet, Palace’s defense, marshaled superbly by their backline, stood firm, refusing to concede even a glimmer of hope. Fulham’s frustration was palpable as chance after chance went begging—Pereira’s sloppy performance epitomized a day to forget for the hosts.
The final nail in Fulham’s coffin came in the 75th minute. Eddie Nketiah, on as a substitute for the returning Jean-Philippe Mateta—who bravely started with a protective mask after a recent ear injury—latched onto a perfectly timed run. Played onside by a dawdling Bassey, Nketiah coolly side-footed past Leno to seal Palace’s passage to Wembley. The striker’s goal underscored the depth in Glasner’s squad, with the Eagles converting three of their five shots on target compared to Fulham’s zero from 15 attempts.
Post-match, Eze expressed confidence in Palace’s FA Cup ambitions. “We’ve shown we have what it takes to go all the way,” he said, reflecting on a performance that married attacking flair with defensive solidity. Glasner, meanwhile, praised his team’s composure: “We were happy without the ball today, and when we had it, we made it count.”
For Fulham, the defeat marks the end of their FA Cup journey, though they can take solace in a spirited campaign that included a memorable penalty shootout win over Manchester United in the previous round. Silva, visibly frustrated, pointed to a contentious moment when Palace’s Adam Wharton escaped a second yellow card for a late tackle on Willian, calling it a “game-changing” decision. However, few could deny that Palace’s clinical edge and tactical discipline were the difference on the day.
With this victory, Crystal Palace advance to their second FA Cup semi-final in three seasons, keeping alive their dream of lifting the trophy for the first time in club history. As they head to Wembley, the Eagles are proving they’re a force to be reckoned with in this year’s competition. For Fulham, attention now turns to their Premier League push for Europe, but this stinging loss will linger as a missed opportunity on the road to silverware.