Nketiah's Magic Propels Palace Past Fulham, Eases Sage's Worries
If Crystal Palace could play every game at home, manager Pierre Sage might not feel the heat at all. Eddie Nketiah's goal, scored against the run of play, gave Palace a fifth consecutive victory over Fulham in front of their fans, easing some pressure on Sage as they secured a spot in the quarterfinals of the competition. The silver lining for Sage is that Arsenal, the team that eliminated them twice before, has already been knocked out, but he knows that Saturday's clash with Tottenham will be crucial for his future.
For Fulham's Álvaro Arbeloa, this result was a frustrating blow after recent progress. The team hasn’t managed to beat Palace at Selhurst Park since January 2005—an astonishing ten-match streak—and this might have been their best chance, especially since Sage opted to make ten changes, including the return of captain Dean Henderson in goal. Henderson’s crucial save in injury time from Gonzalo García was a highlight, but the final whistle brought boos from the Fulham faithful, leaving Arbeloa relieved that they won’t face Palace again this year.
The fortunes of both teams have shifted significantly since Palace's narrow 3-2 win in early September. Arbeloa had eased the pressure on his shoulders with two consecutive 1-0 victories in the Premier League over Hull and Coventry. He made six changes for this match but kept some vital players like Alex Iwobi and captain Calvin Bassey in the lineup.
Sage had to rotate his squad heavily after a grueling week that included a trip to Istanbul for a Europa League draw and a match against Newcastle shortly after. Palace's fatigue was evident in their recent 2-0 defeat, adding to the pressure on their manager. With an eye on the upcoming Tottenham game that could define his future, only Chris Richards retained his place from the previous match.
Concerns about rising ticket prices have led to talks of protests ahead of Palace's next home game against Liverpool. Some fans believe the club is prioritizing tourists over loyal supporters by playing loud music before and during matches. Meanwhile, the visiting Fulham fans were vocal early on, but their second-string team struggled against a Palace side that appeared confident.
Fulham came close to scoring twice in quick succession when Kenny Tete headed a corner wide, followed by a fantastic save from Henderson, who denied Antonee Robinson at the far post. Joachim Andersen missed a great opportunity moments later from another corner, failing to convert against his former club.
Palace looked rusty, particularly with Cheick Doucouré making his first senior appearance in midfield since January 2025 due to injuries. They struggled to find their rhythm, managing only 22% possession in the first half hour and failing to touch the ball in Fulham's box. However, they took an unexpected lead when Óscar Mingueza delivered a perfect cross for Nketiah to volley home, leaving Fulham fans stunned. Sander Berge squandered a chance to equalize just before halftime, sending his header soaring over the crossbar to the delight of the away supporters.
The second half saw Palace come out with renewed energy as Evann Guessand tested goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte with a near-post shot. Fulham nearly capitalized on a mistake from Honest Ahanor but Rodrigo Muniz's weak effort didn't threaten Palace. Arbeloa brought on Josh King to energize his side, and there were cheers from the crowd, but Jefferson Lerma somehow cleared an Iwobi header off the line as Fulham finally generated a chance worthy of their pressure.
In the closing moments, Palace's substitutes Daichi Kamada and Dwight McNeil had opportunities to secure the victory as Fulham pushed forward in desperation. Kamada was left frustrated when his shot narrowly missed the target with just three minutes to go. The whistle brought a wave of frustration from the Fulham supporters, while Palace fans celebrated the prospect of another potential trip to Wembley.
