Crystal Palace secure 3-2 victory over Fulham with late Chilwell goal
Crystal Palace secured a 3-2 away victory against Fulham, with Ben Chilwell scoring the decisive goal on his return to the team. The Eagles twice came from behind to claim the win, marking Pierre Sage’s first victory as head coach since taking over from Oliver Glasner this summer.
Chilwell, who is 29, rejoined Palace on Tuesday on a free transfer from Strasbourg, after spending the latter half of the 2024-25 season on loan there from Chelsea. His impact was immediate, as he scored within three minutes of coming on as a substitute for Tyrick Mitchell, who had netted Palace’s first two goals. Chilwell capitalised on a loose ball after Fulham failed to clear an attack from Sage’s side.
Match Dynamics and Key Moments
Fulham initially took the lead early in the first half through a deflected shot from teenager Josh King. However, Mitchell quickly equalised for Palace with a close-range effort from a tight angle. Fulham regained their lead before halftime when Spanish winger Cesar Palacios scored his first goal for the club following his summer transfer from Real Madrid, putting Alvaro Arbeloa’s side ahead at the break.
Mitchell then scored his second goal at the start of the second half, pouncing on a defensive error by the hosts who struggled to clear his initial attempt, allowing the ball to trickle in and level the score once more. Both Mitchell and Chilwell were celebrated by the travelling Palace supporters at full-time for their goal-scoring contributions.
The goals from the wing-backs highlighted an attacking intent from deep positions, though Fulham’s defence appeared to struggle. Mitchell’s first goal came after he was played through by Eddie Nketiah, opting to shoot past Bernd Leno at his near post. His second goal, his first career double, followed a blocked initial effort and a subsequent intervention that found the net.
Chilwell’s winning goal came after a shot from summer signing Anan Khalaili was blocked, with Chilwell following up to convert and secure the three points for Palace. The team’s performance showed promise, especially after starting the season with two defeats and facing a potential third at halftime. This season will also see Palace compete in the Europa League.
Fulham’s Difficult Start to the Season
For Fulham, this defeat marks their third consecutive league loss since the arrival of former Real Madrid boss Arbeloa. They now join newly promoted Coventry City as one of two teams to have played three Premier League games this season and lost all of them. Fulham’s opening fixtures have been challenging, including a home match against Chelsea and back-to-back encounters with Europa League participants Sunderland and Palace.
Similar to their opening weekend derby loss to rivals Chelsea, Fulham managed to score twice but conceded three goals that were largely deemed avoidable. The team’s defensive vulnerabilities were evident, as Palace scored three times from just five shots on target, according to Spanish newspaper Marca.
The pressure on Arbeloa is mounting, with some boos and disparaging chants directed at him at full-time. With three defeats and seven goals conceded from their first three matches, the situation could worsen for a team that many predicted might face relegation in pre-season forecasts. Fulham’s upcoming schedule includes an away trip to Anfield to face Liverpool, followed by a home game against Manchester United before the international break.
This result also extends Palace’s unbeaten run at Craven Cottage to seven matches, with four wins and three draws, since losing their first away Premier League game there in 2004-05. Fulham, meanwhile, have won only two of their last 13 Premier League matches against Crystal Palace, with both victories occurring at Selhurst Park in the 2022-23 and 2024-25 seasons.
Crystal Palace’s defensive record remains a concern, as this was their ninth consecutive league game conceding at least two goals, a streak they have never experienced in their league history. Despite this, the win provides a much-needed boost for Sage’s side as they navigate the early stages of the season.
Fulham’s next challenge will be their away fixture against Liverpool at Anfield.
Source: bbc.co.uk
