Eberechi Eze played a starring role in Crystal Palace’s 3-0 FA Cup quarter-final win at Fulham on Saturday, scoring once and providing an assist in a remarkable four-minute spell in the first half.
Fresh off his first England goal against Latvia on Monday, Eze opened the scoring with a stunning strike from outside the box. Moments later, he turned provider, delivering a precise left-footed cross for Ismaila Sarr to head in and double Palace’s lead. Eddie Nketiah then added a third in the second half after coming on as a substitute.
After a challenging start to the season, Palace have become one of England’s in-form teams, with manager Oliver Glasner guiding them up to 12th in the Premier League. The Eagles have now won their last six away games, including a 2-0 win at Craven Cottage last month, and will now have their sights set on a potential FA Cup triumph.
Palace also welcomed back French striker Jean-Philippe Mateta for the first time since suffering a serious ear injury in the fifth-round win over Millwall. However, it was Eze’s brilliance that truly stole the show with two decisive moments in quick succession.
The 26-year-old cut inside onto his favoured right foot and curled a beautiful shot off the far post to break the deadlock in the 34th minute. Just minutes later, Eze jinked past Fulham’s Sander Berge and produced an inch-perfect left-footed cross for Sarr to score with a header at the near post.
“It’s unbelievable — the individual quality,” said Glasner, praising Eze’s influence on the game. “The first goal was crucial because it gave us belief. We were struggling at the start, and you need something positive when you’re under pressure.”
Fulham, currently four places and six points above Palace in the Premier League, will now focus on their push for a top-five finish and a potential Champions League spot. But their FA Cup hopes were dashed 15 minutes from time when Eddie Nketiah, who had only been on the field for a few minutes, calmly finished past his former Arsenal teammate, Bernd Leno, for Palace’s third goal.
In the day’s other quarter-final, Brighton will face Nottingham Forest, with the Seagulls hoping to bounce back from their 7-0 defeat to Forest last month. Brighton have been in excellent form since, winning six and drawing one of their last seven matches.
Meanwhile, Manchester City, favourites to win the FA Cup, face a tough away trip to Bournemouth on Sunday as they look to salvage their season with a trophy. Aston Villa, aiming for their first silverware since 1996, will visit second-tier Preston in Sunday’s early kick-off.
