Crystal Palace booked their place in the FA Cup semi-finals with a clinical 3-0 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage on Saturday, March 29th, extending their winning streak to five matches across all competitions. Despite Fulham dominating the opening half-hour, Palace struck decisively against the run of play and controlled the remainder of the contest.
Fulham started brightly, applying sustained pressure, with Rodrigo Muniz going closest to opening the scoring. However, the home side failed to capitalize on their early dominance.
Crystal Palace weathered the storm and took the lead in the 34th minute through a moment of individual brilliance from Eberechi Eze. The England international cut in from the left flank and curled a precise low shot past goalkeeper Bernd Leno and in off the far post.
Eze turned provider shortly after, delivering a cross that Ismaila Sarr headed in at the near post to double Palace’s advantage before halftime.
Fulham attempted to respond after the break, with Willian forcing a good save from Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson. However, Marco Silva’s side struggled to break down a well-organized Palace defence. Substitute Eddie Nketiah sealed the victory for the visitors, slotting the ball through Leno’s legs after being played through.
Palace’s Resurgence Continues
The victory marks another significant step in Crystal Palace’s impressive turnaround under manager Oliver Glasner. After a slow start to the season, the Eagles have lost only twice in their last 15 matches, reached the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, are pushing towards the top half of the Premier League, and are now in the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time since 2022. Glasner’s disciplined 3-4-2-1 formation proved effective once again.
Fulham Rue Missed Opportunity
For Fulham, the defeat represents a missed opportunity to reach Wembley, especially given their strong start to the match. Manager Marco Silva, overseeing his 500th game, will be disappointed that his team failed to convert their early pressure into goals. Despite their excellent league position (9th, just three points off a potential Champions League spot), this home defeat in the cup will sting.
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