Ebereche Eze was at the heart of a Crystal Palace clinic as the Eagles soared past Fulham to book their place in the FA Cup semi-finals.
After holding off a bright Cottagers start, Palace began to threaten and after Jefferson Lerma was denied an awe-inspiring volley by the crossbar, the visitors took the lead through a delightful curled effort from Eze.
Eze then turned provider four minutes later to set up Ismaila Sarr, who headed in from close range to give Palace breathing space before the break.
Palace looked comfortable in the second half and kept Fulham from ever really threatening before Eddie Nketiah sealed Palace's trip to Wembley with 15 minutes to go, topping off a perfect afternoon for Oliver Glasner's side.
Follow all the reaction from Craven Cottage with our live blog below:
Fulham vs Crystal Palace LIVE
- 25' OFF THE BAR! Lerma denied belter by the woodwork [FUL 0-0 CRY]
- 34' GOAL! Eze breaks the deadlock with a stunning curling effort [FUL 0-1 CRY]
- 38' GOAL! Sarr heads home to quickly double Palace's lead [FUL 0-2 CRY]
- 75' GOAL! Nketiah puts the tie out of sight [FUL 0-3 CRY]
- Fulham XI: Leno; Castagne, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Berge, Lukic; Pereira, Iwobi, Willian; Muniz
- Crystal Palace XI: Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Lerma, Wharton, Mitchell; Sarr, Mateta, Eze
Fulham FC 0 - 3 Crystal Palace FC
Report: Eberechi Eze inspires Crystal Palace to stunning win at Fulham in wide-open FA Cup
14:40 , Will CastleEberechi Eze was the difference maker as Crystal Palace booked their trip to Wembley with a 3-0 win over Fulham in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
Palace's number 10, who was among those in England manager Thomas Tuchel's first squad selection earlier this month, opened the scoring with a brilliant effort before he assisted Ismaila Sarr for his side's second at Craven Cottage.
Eddie Nketiah came off the bench to add a third as Palace claimed a fifth successive win in all competitions and will now eagerly await a semi-final in a competition that has become wide open thanks to the early exits of most of the traditional ‘big six’.
Read the full report from Craven Cottage below:
Eberechi Eze inspires Crystal Palace to stunning win at Fulham in wide-open FA Cup
Crystal Palace breeze past Fulham into FA Cup last four
14:22 , Will Castle
FULL-TIME! Fulham 0-3 Crystal Palace
14:08 , Will CastleCrystal Palace put on a clinic at the Cottage to seal their place in the FA Cup semi-finals.
First-half goals from Ebereche Eze and Ismaila Sarr were added to by Eddie Nketiah after the restart, topping off an afternoon that saw Palace prevent Fulham from ever really threatening.
A perfect performance, and the Eagles are flying to Wembley.
Fulham 0-3 Crystal Palace
14:05 , Will Castle90 mins: THREE minutes added on.
Away end is in full voice.
Fulham 0-3 Crystal Palace
14:05 , Will Castle89 mins: Clyne has just come on for Palace and he’s quickly found his way into the book.
Devenny and Franca have also come on for two of Palace’s three goalscorers, Eze and Sarr.
Fulham 0-3 Crystal Palace
14:01 , Will Castle85 mins: More excellent defending by the visitors to deny Muniz on the break.
Even at 3-0, they’re throwing their bodies on the line to prevent Fulham from even getting a consolation.
Fulham 0-3 Crystal Palace
13:59 , Will Castle83 mins: Palace could have had another as Chris Richards latched onto a corner, only for his header to be blocked by his own teammate.
Fulham 0-3 Crystal Palace
13:56 , Will Castle80 mins: Fulham win another corner - this time under questionable circumstances, with the referee deeming that Henderson didn’t keep the ball in play. Replays indicate that he did just that.
Either way, as has been the case all game, a Palace head gets to the resulting delivery first.
GOAL! Fulham 0-3 Crystal Palace
13:49 , Will Castle75 mins: GOAL! Crystal Palace are on their way to Wembley!
Just off the bench, Nketiah times his run to perfection and slots it past Leno to put the contest surely out of sight.
Some afternoon for the Eagles, this.
Fulham 0-2 Crystal Palace
13:47 , Will Castle71 mins: Four changes to make note of, two for each side.
Mateta’s return to action ends without a goal as Nketiah comes on in his place, while Kamada replaces Wharton, who has been on a yellow for the last hour.
For the hosts, Sessegnon replaces captain Robinson an even more attacking-minded left-back, and Jimenez comes on for Willian.
Fulham 0-2 Crystal Palace
13:45 , Will Castle69 mins: CHANCE! How did Bassey not put that in?!
The corner that results from Henderson’s save is whipped in and bounces into the six-yard box, where Bassey scrambles to get the finish.
He’s on the ground with the ball right next to him - he swings a leg at it but Sarr gets there to prevent it crossing the line.
Fulham 0-2 Crystal Palace
13:43 , Will Castle68 mins: SAVE! Henderson is called into action and stands up to the test!
Willian bends one from range but Henderson gets across and stretches out a hand to turn it around the post.
Fulham 0-2 Crystal Palace
13:42 , Will Castle66 mins: Sarr drives into the Fulham the box and goes tumbling down under pressure.
The referee is quick to wave away any penalty claims.
Fulham 0-2 Crystal Palace
13:38 , Will Castle63 mins: Fulham injecting some pace and creativity into the game by introducing Adama Traore and Emile Smith Rowe. Pereira and Lukic make way.
Fulham 0-2 Crystal Palace
13:34 , Will Castle59 mins: Palace look comfortable at the minute and Fulham need a goal very, very quickly if they are to shift the tides of this contest.
They’ve having possession, whipping in crosses and winning corners, but nothing is testing Henderson’s goal.
Fulham 0-2 Crystal Palace
13:32 , Will Castle56 mins: Palace counter sharply again from a free-kick Rodrigo Muniz was frustrated to win - having got away from his man after getting his shirt pulled.
Dinked ball towards a Palace man but defended well by a Fulham head.
Fulham 0-2 Crystal Palace
13:28 , Will Castle52 mins: Another inviting Willian corner is defended well by Palace, sparking a rapid counter.
Sarr is running onto the ball in behind but Leno gets out quickly to clear.
Fulham 0-2 Crystal Palace
13:24 , Will Castle49 mins: Fulham have started this second half better than they ended the first.
They’re ticking it around Palace’s box and whipping in dangerous deliveries.
But as we saw in the first half, not getting that decisive touch will prove the difference here.
BACK UNDERWAY! Fulham 0-2 Crystal Palace
13:21 , Will Castle46 mins: We’re off again at the Cottage.
I was going to say more of the same for Palace, but Chris Richards has quickly earned a yellow card for hacking down Muniz. Maybe the message will be to keep their heads.
HALF-TIME! Fulham 0-2 Crystal Palace
13:09 , Will Castle
HALF-TIME! Fulham 0-2 Crystal Palace
13:05 , Will CastleCrystal Palace are halfway to a trip to Wembley as they lead 2-0 at the break against Fulham.
The Cottagers started the better, with Rodrigo Muniz and Andreas Pereira having early chances to break the deadlock.
But as Palace grew into the game, they began to look the more threatening of the two - with Jefferson Lerma smashing the bar with a stunning volleyed effort.
A moment of brilliance from Ebereche Eze gave the visitors the lead, before the Englishman turned provider four minutes later to set up Ismaila Sarr.
Fulham 0-2 Crystal Palace
13:04 , Will Castle45+2 mins: Late pressure from Fulham as Willian has a long-range shot blocked before Bassey’s low cross is cut out.
That’ll be that for the first half.
Fulham 0-2 Crystal Palace
13:03 , Will Castle45 mins: Palace dink in another inviting delivery and it’s met by an Eagles head, but not enough power is generated to test Leno.
Fourth official has indicated TWO minutes added time.
Fulham 0-2 Crystal Palace
13:00 , Will Castle42 mins: Adam Wharton looked like he was going to have a tough time of it today after the opening 15 minutes - but as he roulettes past two Fulham players, it’s safe to say he has found his groove.
GOAL! Fulham 0-2 Crystal Palace
12:55 , Will Castle38 mins: GOAL! Palace have grown into this game, and then some!
Berge gives Eze too much time on the left, who this time turns creator to whip the ball into the danger area, with Ismaila Sarr making a darting run to meet it and head home.
Two goals in four minutes for Palace, and Fulham have a herculean job on their hands if they’re going to head to Wembley.
GOAL! Fulham 0-1 Crystal Palace
12:51 , Will Castle34 mins: GOAL! Take a bow, Ebereche Eze!
Eze receives the ball outside and dances towards goal before firing a pinpoint curler into the far corner. An incredible way to break the deadlock.
Fulham 0-0 Crystal Palace
12:50 , Will Castle32 mins: Rodrigo Muniz leans into Henderson who jumps up to collect the ball, with the keeper tumbling over the Brazilian and hitting the deck.
Muniz then hits the deck off a challenge from Lacroix. Feisty.
Fulham 0-0 Crystal Palace
12:45 , Will Castle25 mins: OFF THE BAR! That would have been one of the goals of the DECADE!
Fulham head a Palace set piece up into the air and drops towards Jefferson Lerma outside the box - time stands still before he catches it perfectly on the volley, with it dipping towards the top-left corner.
Leno is beaten but it doesn’t have enough dip on it, ricocheting the bar instead. So close to something out of this world.
Fulham 0-0 Crystal Palace
12:42 , Will Castle22 mins: Wharton is already on a yellow and he’s VERY lucky not to be off.
He gets knocked into by a running Muniz and responds by subtly kicking out at Muniz, who goes down in a heap. The touch was minimal and safe to say Muniz was milking it, but that’s a yellow card offence.
VAR look at it and it’s rightly not deemed a straight red, which is the only thing they can act on. Wharton gets away with it.
Fulham 0-0 Crystal Palace
12:37 , Will Castle19 mins: CLOSE! What an assist that would’ve been from Bassey!
The defender runs onto a pass from Willian and sends Richards to the shops to give himself ages in the box to pick out a white shirt.
He pulls it back to Pereira who drags his shot just wide of the far post.
Fulham 0-0 Crystal Palace
12:32 , Will Castle14 mins: A second late sliding challenge of the game and Wharton is in the book.
He’s on a tightrope with a massive portion of this game to play.
Fulham 0-0 Crystal Palace
12:31 , Will Castle13 mins: Brilliant burst of pace from Sarr towards the byline before playing it across towards the on-rushing Mateta. Well defended by Berge who cuts it out to concede a corner.
Palace win the first header from the corner and it bounces in a dangerous position, but no-one can get the decisive finish and Leno collects.
Fulham 0-0 Crystal Palace
12:28 , Will Castle12 mins: Palace are being peppered with crosses, with Fulham heads winning two corners in quick succession. They don’t get enough on either effort, though, and it’s simple for Henderson.
Fulham 0-0 Crystal Palace
12:26 , Will Castle8 mins: Lovely ball in from Emile Smith Rowe nearly bends around the Palace defenders and into the path of Muniz, but a blue and red shirt gets just enough on it.
Dangerous corner is then whipped in moments later, with Bassey coming in at the back-post - Guehi does superb under a lot of pressure to get away.
Fulham 0-0 Crystal Palace
12:24 , Will Castle6 mins: Fulham dominating possession early on here and have got the support of a rabid crowd behind them.
This has an atmosphere akin to when Juventus came to town on that famous Europa League night in 2010. It’s absolutely bouncing.
Fulham 0-0 Crystal Palace
12:20 , Will Castle2 mins: CHANCE! Fulham immediately on the front foot and fashion a glorious opening to take the lead!
Muniz skips past his man and drives into the box before firing a side-footed finish towards the far corner, but he just doesn’t get the bend on it - with it passing the wrong side of the post.
KICK-OFF! Fulham 0-0 Crystal Palace
12:17 , Will Castle1 min: KICK-OFF! We’re underway at the Cottage.
Kick-off up next
12:10 , Will CastleWe’re fast approaching kick-off at Craven Cottage as Fulham and Crystal Palace vie for a place in the FA Cup semi-finals.
Both sides are just one win away from a trip to Wembley.
We’ve got all the action, up next.
Why this weekend’s FA Cup quarter-finals are a once-in-a-generation event
12:00 , Will CastleAt Brighton this week, it had been suggested the club supply fans with special flags to give Saturday a proper sense of occasion, but this was rejected by manager Fabian Hurzeler and the wider staff. They want the players to treat this FA Cup quarter-final at home to Nottingham Forest as if it’s just another home game. That tends to be an attitude more conducive to actually winning, especially when you can sense the excitement building around the training ground.
Brighton are far from the only club wrestling with such competing emotions this weekend, because the majority of those left in the FA Cup are keenly aware this isn’t just another game. It’s a historic, and maybe unique, opportunity.
There will be no debates about the competition’s meaning. Most of the clubs who most frequently win it – including its five most successful clubs over the last 34 years and nine of its past 10 winners – are out. It really couldn’t mean more to those left.
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Why this weekend’s FA Cup quarter-finals are a once-in-a-generation event
Interview: Jan Paul van Hecke on Brighton’s next step and lessons from Virgil van Dijk
11:50 , Will CastleOn listening to Jan Paul van Hecke talk, you can start to understand why Fabian Hurzeler has empowered the centre-half to speak more, especially in a week like this.
Brighton and Hove Albion have been so focused on setting the right mindset that they have been sending their squad clips of late goals. The idea is to foster belief, especially as the club aims to take that crucial next step and win their first-ever major trophy through the FA Cup. “I feel like we really can do something in this cup,” Van Hecke says.
The Dutch centre-half’s approach helps. “I like to motivate other players,” Van Hecke explains, but staff say that is typical of this leader’s humility. The 24-year-old has naturally emerged as a senior voice.
Read the full interview below:
Jan Paul van Hecke on Brighton’s next step and lessons from Virgil van Dijk
When is the FA Cup semi-final draw?
11:40 , Will CastleThe FA Cup semi-final draw will take place on Sunday 30 March after the conclusion of Preston North End v Aston Villa, which kicks off at 1:30pm, so we can expect the draw to take place at approximately 3:45pm or later.
How to watch the FA Cup draw
The draw will take place live as part of BBC One’s broadcast of Preston North End v Aston Villa. It will also stream live on BBC iPlayer.
Mark Chapman will host the draw, while Joe Hart will conduct it.
Perfect conditions in SW6
11:35 , Will Castle
Jean-Philippe Mateta is back, and back with a vengeance
11:30 , Will CastleHe might have to wear a mask to protect his ear following a challenge by Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts that required 25 stitches, but it will take more than that to keep Jean-Philippe Mateta quiet on his return to action.
Before his injury, he had scored eight goals in nine games and he will be chomping at the bit to get back in action, having missed the 1-0 win over Ipswich last time out.
He has 20 for the season, for club and country, so far and he will provide the biggest threat to the Fulham defence.
Both teams eyeing a rare FA Cup final appearance
11:20 , Will CastleFulham reached their only final in 1975, where they were beaten 2-0 by West Ham, while Palace have been beaten twice in the final by Manchester United.
The first time was in 1990, when they drew 3-3 with the Red Devils at Wembley, before Lee Martin scored the only goal of the game in the replay - a result which many say kept Sir Alex Ferguson in his job.
The same two sides met 26 years later and on that occasion United ran out 2-1 winners after extra time to lift the trophy for the 12th time.
Fulham vs Crystal Palace: Confirmed line-ups
11:19 , Will CastleFulham XI: Leno; Castagne, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Berge, Lukic; Pereira, Iwobi, Willian; Muniz.
Crystal Palace XI: Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Lerma, Wharton, Mitchell; Sarr, Mateta, Eze.
Marco Silva's Fulham. ⚪️#FULCRY pic.twitter.com/MS46cXlE7f
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) March 29, 2025
The Palace.#CPFC
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) March 29, 2025
Fulham chasing redemption against the Eagles
11:10 , Will CastleThings didn’t go Fulham’s way when the two sides met at the Cottage last month.
There was no love lost for former Palace defender Joachim Andersen, who nodded into his own net to give his former side the lead before half-time.
Daniel Munoz then fired home to double the Eagles’s lead after the break, condemning their London rivals to a home defeat that acted as a blow to their European hopes.
Today acts as a chance for Fulham to avenge that loss.
Odds for today's clash
11:00 , Will CastleFulham win – 13/10
Draw – 11/5
Palace win – 11/5
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Predicted lineups
10:45 , Will CastleFulham XI: Leno; Castagne, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Lukic, Berge; Iwobi, Smith Rowe, Willian; Jimenez.
Palace XI: Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Wharton, Lerma, Mitchell; Sarr, Eze; Mateta.
Crystal Palace team news
10:30 , Will CastleThe big news for Palace is that Jean-Philippe Mateta has been cleared to make a return, so he will likely play upfront.
Elsewhere, Will Hughes will sit out this match due to suspension, while Cheick Doucoure and Chadi Riad are the longer-term absentees.
Fulham team news
10:10 , Will CastleFor the hosts, Sasa Lukic should return after serving his suspension, though Kenny Tete, Harry Wilson and Reiss Nelson remain sidelined until April at the earliest.
Other than that, Silva should have a full squad to choose from after the international break, with Lukic likely to partner Sander Berge in midfield.
In attack, Emile Smith Rowe will likely play centrally, with Raul Jimenez or Rodrigo Muniz leading the line.
Is Fulham vs Palace on TV? Kick-off time, channel and how to watch
09:50 , Will CastleWhen is Fulham vs Crystal Palace?
The FA Cup quarter-final will kick off at 12.15pm on Saturday, 29 March at Craven Cottage in London.
How can I watch it?
The match will be shown free-to-air on ITV1, with coverage starting at 11.30am. Subscribers can also stream the action online via ITVX.
Fulham vs Crystal Palace LIVE
09:30 , Will CastleWelcome to The Independent’s live coverage of the first FA Cup quarter-final of the weekend.
It’s an all-London affair as Fulham host Crystal Palace, with both just a win away from a trip to Wembley.
The Cottagers haven’t reached the FA Cup’s final four in 23 years and will be desperate to banish those demons against city rivals Palace, who got the better of them back in February.
We’ll have all the action, right here.
