Crystal Palace booked their spot in the FA Cup semi-finals in emphatic fashion, securing a commanding 3-0 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage on Saturday. Eberechi Eze was the standout performer, delivering a masterclass with a goal and an assist in a sensational four-minute spell during the first half.
Fresh from scoring his maiden international goal for England against Latvia earlier in the week, Eze opened the scoring with a stunning strike from outside the box in the 34th minute. Just moments later, he turned provider, setting up Ismaila Sarr with a pinpoint left-footed cross to double Palace’s lead.
Under manager Oliver Glasner, Crystal Palace have turned their season around, surging up the Premier League table to 12th and emerging as one of England’s most in-form teams.
Saturday’s win marked their sixth consecutive away victory, including a 2-0 triumph at Craven Cottage last month, fueling their belief that they can lift the FA Cup for the first time in the club’s history.
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The Eagles also welcomed back French striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, who had been sidelined since suffering a gruesome ear injury that required 25 stitches in their fifth-round win over Millwall. However, it was Eze who stole the show with two game-changing moments in rapid succession.
The 26-year-old midfielder showcased his quality, cutting inside onto his favored right foot to curl a superb shot off the far post to break the deadlock. Minutes later, he displayed his versatility, weaving past Sander Berge before delivering an inch-perfect cross with his left foot for Sarr to nod home at the near post.
Palace boss Oliver Glasner was full of praise for his star man, acknowledging the crucial impact of Eze’s performance. “It’s unbelievable—the individual quality,” Glasner said. “The first goal was so important because we were really struggling in the beginning. You need something special when the game isn’t going your way, and Eze gave us that belief.”
Fulham, currently sitting four places and six points above Palace in the Premier League, had hoped to reach Wembley but saw their FA Cup dreams dashed with 15 minutes remaining.
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Substitute Eddie Nketiah, who had only just replaced Mateta, added the finishing touch with a composed strike past his former Arsenal teammate Bernd Leno—marking his third goal in four games.
Elsewhere in the FA Cup, Brighton hosted Nottingham Forest in another quarter-final clash on Saturday. Forest had stunned the Seagulls with a 7-0 thrashing last month, but Brighton entered the match in strong form, unbeaten in their last seven games, including a 2-2 draw away to Manchester City.
City remain the favorites to win the competition but will face a stern test when they visit Bournemouth on Sunday. After a season that has fallen below their usual high standards, the FA Cup represents their final opportunity to claim silverware this year.
Meanwhile, Aston Villa will look to stay on course for their first trophy since 1996 when they take on Championship side Preston in Sunday’s early kick-off.
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