Crystal Palace secured a decisive 2-0 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage, marking their fifth consecutive away win. Oliver Glasner celebrated his one-year anniversary as manager of the team with this significant triumph. The match saw moments of brilliance, particularly from Eberechi Eze and Jean-Philippe Mateta, as Palace's tactical discipline proved too much for Fulham to handle. Despite Fulham's early dominance in possession, Palace capitalized on their opportunities to secure the win.
Fulham started the match strongly, commanding possession and pressing forward with intent. However, it was Crystal Palace who broke the deadlock through an own goal by Joachim Andersen. The misfortune set Fulham back as they struggled to regain their footing against a well-organized Palace side. Eberechi Eze, a standout performer, dazzled with his skill, completing four successful dribbles—the most by any player in the match—and maintaining an impressive 89% pass accuracy.
Jean-Philippe Mateta played a crucial role in Crystal Palace's second goal, which was initially denied by VAR due to an offside call, nullifying an assist from Eze. Despite the setback, Palace's persistence paid off when Daniel Munoz scored a sublime effort to double their lead.
"We know that when we are that disciplined like today when everybody is investing so much, it's tough to play against us." – Oliver Glasner
The win brought Crystal Palace's tally of away points to 24, a stark contrast to their home form at Selhurst Park, where they have only accumulated 11 points. This victory not only extended their winning streak on the road but also highlighted their ability to claim significant scalps, including wins over Manchester United, West Ham, and Leicester.
Oliver Glasner's tactics have undoubtedly been instrumental in Palace's away form success. By instilling discipline and resilience within the squad, he has transformed them into a formidable opponent on their travels. Fulham, on the other hand, faced challenges despite their initial control of the game. Marco Silva, Fulham's manager, expressed his dissatisfaction with the team's performance and raised concerns about the officiating.
"We have to look for ourselves. Even with the bad performance from the referee, in my opinion, we are not at the level that we should [be]." – Marco Silva
The defeat served as a reminder of Fulham's ongoing struggles to convert possession into meaningful chances. While they dominated early proceedings, they failed to register a shot on target throughout the match. This lack of cutting edge proved costly against a well-drilled Crystal Palace side.
Eberechi Eze's performance was a key highlight for Crystal Palace. His ability to maintain possession and create opportunities under pressure was evident, as he consistently threatened Fulham's defense. Eze's skillful dribbling and precise passing were instrumental in breaking down Fulham's defensive lines, although he was unlucky not to be credited with an assist due to VAR intervention.
Jean-Philippe Mateta's involvement in Palace's attacking play further underscored the team's depth and cohesion. His presence in the final third kept Fulham's defense on high alert and eventually paved the way for Munoz's clinching goal.
As Crystal Palace continues to gather momentum with each away fixture, they must now focus on translating this success into their home performances. With only 11 points from games at Selhurst Park, Glasner's side will need to find consistency on home soil to strengthen their overall league standing.
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