Crystal Palace triumphed over Fulham with a convincing 2-0 victory at Craven Cottage on February 22, 2025, marking a significant win for the Eagles as they continue their impressive away form. This match added to Fulham's woes, as they struggled to secure any shots on target throughout the game.
The first half saw Fulham enjoying the lion's share of possession, but it was Crystal Palace who turned the tide decisively. Palace took the lead eight minutes before the half-time whistle when Fulham defender Joachim Andersen inadvertently glided the ball past his own goalkeeper from a corner kick. Although Andersen claimed he had not intended for the ball to enter the net, the goal nonetheless put Palace firmly in control as they headed to the break.
Fulham's frustration mounted as they attempted to break down Palace's disciplined defensive setup, but they found little joy on the attack. Will Hughes, the Palace midfielder, orchestrated his team's defensive efforts, preventing Fulham from finding any rhythm. While both teams registered ten attempts on goal, only half of Palace's managed to trouble Fulham’s keeper, Bernd Leno.
Undeterred by the setbacks, Palace kicked off the second half with determination. Although Jean-Philippe Mateta thought he had doubled the lead shortly after the interval, VAR ruled his goal offside, keeping Fulham’s hopes flickering, albeit dimly.
Nonetheless, Crystal Palace’s persistence paid off when Daniel Munoz scored the definitive second goal midway through the second half. Following a quick break away and slick team play, Munoz received the pass from Mateta and unleashed a powerful shot from the edge of the box, which rocketed past Leno and sealed the match for Palace.
Fulham made attempts to respond as head coach Marco Silva substituted fresh legs onto the field. Yet, his team’s efforts continued to lack precision, leaving them unable to focus their attacks effectively against Palace's resolute defense. Silva commented post-match, expressing disappointment over his team's inability to create more scoring opportunities, particularly after friendly substitutions, which he claimed led to their downfall. "We have to be more aggressive and kill it, within the rules of course," he stressed.
The defeat saw Fulham slip down to ninth place on the Premier League table with 39 points from 27 matches, currently missing out on the coveted top-seven finish. Conversely, Crystal Palace's victory propelled them to 13th place with 33 points and marked their fifth straight away win. Coach Oliver Glasner reflected positively on his team's efforts, noting, "We don't know the reason for winning more away than at home. It is the same approach. All of the credit goes to the players; they worked hard for this win and were disciplined throughout the game."
The contrasting fortunes of both teams this season highlight the highs and lows of Premier League football. Fulham aimed for European football—a dream not fulfilled since the 2011/12 season—but with performances like this, their prospects appear bleak. Meanwhile, Crystal Palace must now strive to replicate their away success at home, where they have struggled to find any form this year.
With the league heating up and both teams eyeing their next fixtures, the stakes will only get higher. Fulham will need to regroup and find their scoring boots if they hope to break back toward the upper echelon of the Premier League, whereas Palace looks to utilize their traveling prowess to carve themselves out of mid-table anonymity.