Crystal Palace vs Fulham: FA Cup Quarter-Final Win, Match Highlights & Team News

 Crystal Palace Triumphs Over Fulham to Reach FA Cup Semi-Finals

In a thrilling FA Cup quarter-final clash at Craven Cottage, Crystal Palace secured a 2-0 victory over Fulham, earning a coveted spot in the semi-finals at Wembley.

Match Highlights:

• Eberechi Eze's Brilliance: The deadlock was broken in the 34th minute when Eberechi Eze showcased his exceptional talent. Receiving the ball outside the box, Eze maneuvered past defenders before delivering a precise curling shot into the far corner, leaving Fulham's goalkeeper Bernd Leno with no chance. citeturn0search1

• Ismaïla Sarr's Header: Just four minutes later, in the 38th minute, Eze turned provider. He delivered a well-placed cross that Ismaïla Sarr met with a darting near-post run, heading the ball into the net to double Palace's lead.

Key Moments:

• Early Fulham Pressure: The match began with Fulham asserting dominance. Rodrigo Muniz and Andreas Pereira had early opportunities, testing Palace's defense and goalkeeper Dean Henderson.

• Lerma's Near Miss: In the 25th minute, Crystal Palace's Jefferson Lerma nearly opened the scoring with a stunning volley from outside the box. The ball struck the crossbar, narrowly missing a goal-of-the-season contender.

Team News:

• Mateta's Return: Crystal Palace welcomed back striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, who started the match wearing protective headgear. Mateta had been sidelined after receiving 25 stitches due to a severe ear injury sustained in a previous FA Cup match against Millwall.

• Fulham's Lineup: Fulham's starting XI featured Leno; Castagne, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Berge, Lukic; Pereira, Iwobi, Willian; Muniz. The return of key midfielder Sasa Lukic, available after suspension, was a boost for the Cottagers.

Looking Ahead:

Crystal Palace's victory propels them into the FA Cup semi-finals, bringing them one step closer to a historic cup triumph. Manager Oliver Glasner praised his team's resilience and highlighted the significant contributions of Eze and Sarr.

Fulham, despite a commendable FA Cup run, will now focus on their Premier League campaign, aiming to secure European qualification. Manager Marco Silva acknowledged the team's efforts and emphasized the importance of learning from this experience.

Conclusion:

Crystal Palace's clinical performance at Craven Cottage underscores their growing stature in English football. As they prepare for the semi-finals at Wembley, fans are hopeful that this momentum will carry them to FA Cup glory.