Eberechi Eze Shines as Crystal Palace Triumphs Over Fulham with Fifth Straight Away Win
It was a memorable day for Crystal Palace at Craven Cottage as they nailed their fifth consecutive away win by defeating Fulham 2-0 in a Premier League clash. This particular match carried extra significance as it coincided with the one-year managerial anniversary of Oliver Glasner at the club. Under Glasner's guidance, Palace seems to have found a winning formula on the road, proving once again their effectiveness away from Selhurst Park.
A Tactical Masterclass by Palace
Under Glasner’s strategies, Palace exhibited a display of tactical brilliance. The first breakthrough came from an unfortunate own goal by Fulham's Joachim Andersen. Originating from a corner kick, Maxence Lacroix initially appeared to claim the goal, but it was Andersen's touch that directed the ball into the net. Despite this setback, Fulham dominated possession but struggled to convert it into meaningful opportunities against Palace's solid defense.
Eberechi Eze was a standout, turning heads with his performance. He successfully completed four dribbles and maintained an impressive 89% pass accuracy. Although the attacking effort led by Eze included a moment where VAR denied him an assist, his overall play significantly contributed to Palace's offensive momentum.
Disciplined Defense and Counterattack
Despite Fulham having the ball for most of the match, Palace’s disciplined backline ensured they weren’t troubled too much, as noted by the complete absence of shots on target by Fulham. Seeing their opportunity during a counterattack in the second half, Jean-Philippe Mateta's swift movement down the flank set up Daniel Munoz, who then expertly angled the ball into the net to double the score. Munoz’s adaptability in fulfilling the demanding role of a wing-back was evident in moments like these.
After the match, Glasner applauded the defensive efforts and Eze’s return to fitness, which he sees as key to Palace's prowess. In contrast, Fulham's manager, Marco Silva, was keen to address his team's slow ball movement and the poor decision-making that kept them from capitalizing on their possession.
This win not only offered a boost on the scoreboard, moving Palace up in the mid-table rankings to 13th place, but also highlighted the stark contrast between their home and away performances. While their away record is gaining respect, their home form still requires improvement. Meanwhile, Fulham missed out on an opportunity to climb into the top seven, showing that possession without precision can sometimes lead to missed opportunities.