Report: Brilliant Palace book semi-final spot with emphatic win at Fulham

Summary

• 0: Fulham kick-off Palace’s first FA Cup quarter-final in three years.
• 3: Muniz wriggles clear of the Palace defence but curls his shot wide of the post.
• 14: Sarr very nearly finds Mateta at the near post in Palace’s first chance of the afternoon
• 15: Wharton goes into the book for a foul on Willian
• 19: Fulham go close to the lead after Bassey pulls back for Lukic, but he can only drag a shot wide.
• 24: Lerma wonderstrike smashes back off the crossbar.
• 33 – GOAL: Eze produces a moment of individual magic to fire Palace in front.
• 38 – GOAL: Sarr nods in after another sensational bit of play from Eze down the left wing.
• HT: Fulham 0-2 Palace
• 46: Richards goes in the book for a foul on the halfway line
• 67: Palace survive a goalmouth scramble following a Fulham corner, Sarr making a vital clearance.
• 75 – GOAL: Nketiah is sent through by Kamada and finishes the tie with a composed finish.
• FT: Fulham 0-3 Palace

Three fabulous goals from Ebere Eze, Ismaïla Sarr and Eddie Nketiah ensured Palace will be back at Wembley next month, as the Eagles won at Craven Cottage for the second time this season.

After a slow start, two strikes in four minutes during the first half completely turned the tie Palace’s way and meant a jubilant away end could enjoy a perfect afternoon in the spring sunshine.

Oliver Glasner made a sole change to his side, with forward Jean-Philippe Mateta returning to the team and Nketiah dropping to the bench.

The first chance of the game fell to the home side, Rodrigo Muniz managing to break through the Palace back three, but only curling his shot wide of Dean Henderson’s post.

In an intense atmosphere in west London, the Eagles initially struggled to find their rhythm – Fulham having most of the ball, but struggling to create.

Joachim Anderson was next to test the Eagles resolve, his low shot well blocked by Jefferson Lerma, with Dean Henderson managing to deal with the resulting corner.

Sarr was responsible for Palace’s first foray at the other end, nearly finding Mateta at the near post, only for Sander Berge to make a late clearance.

Fulham's lively defender Calvin Bassey nearly created the opening goal after driving into the visitors' box, but thankfully for Palace Saša Lukic could only drag a shot wide from inside the penalty area.

But it was Palace who would come the closest in a nearly opening 30 minutes. Jefferson Lerma produced an outstanding, swerving volley from way outside the Fulham penalty area, for a second it looked to be dipping in, only to smash back out off the crossbar.

However, it wouldn’t take long for the Eagles to grab the games opening goal. Eze driving at the Fulham defence after receiving Tyrick Mitchell’s pass – and duly smashing a low shot in the far corner, Leno left with no chance.

And England’s latest goalscorer wasn’t done there. Five minutes later he was tormenting the Fulham defence again with a mazy run down the left wing.

Just as it looked like he had missed his chance to cross, Eze picked out the onrushing Sarr, who nodded beyond the ball into the far corner – sending the Putney away end into delirium.

Although Fulham began the second half applying pressure with a succession of corners, Palace remained a threat on the break – with Eze and Sarr combining to very nearly release Muñoz on the counter-attack, only for Leno to intervene.

The Colombian nearly picked out Eze at the back post only a few minutes later, but Fulham’s Timothy Castagne got to the cross first.

The Whites made two changes in an attempt to turn the tide, introducing Emile Smith Rowe and Adama Traoré. And they did come close to getting back into it, a goalmouth scramble following a corner requiring a timely intervention from Sarr.

And six minutes later the tie was settled when Palace’s substitutes combined to great effect.

Daichi Kamada’s weighted pass found Eddie Nketiah in behind the Fulham defence and his cool finish sealed the tie in front of an ecstatic travelling support.

That finished off the hosts challenge, with Nathaniel Clyne and Justin Devenny also introduced as late substitutes for the Eagles.

The remainder of the game passed mainly without incident, leaving the Palace fans to serenade the team with choruses of “Wembley again, ole, ole.”

We will find out our semi-final opponents tomorrow afternoon in draw, which follows the Preston-Aston Villa tie.

Palace: Henderson (GK), Richards, Guéhi, Lacroix, Muñoz (Clyne, 86), Mitchell, Lerma, Wharton (Kamada, 69), Eze (França, 90), Sarr (Devenny, 86), Mateta (Nketiah, 69)

Subs: Turner (GK), Chilwell, Kporha, Esse.

Fulham: Leno (GK), Castagne, Anderson, Bassey, Robinson (Sessegnon, 69), Berge, Lukić (Traoré, 62) Pereira (Smith Rowe, 62), Iwobi (Cairney, 82), Willian (Jimenez, 69), Muniz.

Subs: Benda (GK), Diop, Cuenca, Reed.

AS IT HAPPENED