Eze Leads Crystal Palace into FA Cup Semi-finals

AFP | London
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Eberechi Eze inspired Crystal Palace to a 3-0 FA Cup quarter-final win at Fulham yesterday, contributing a goal and an assist in a dramatic four-minute spell in the first half.

Fresh from scoring his first England goal against Latvia on Monday, Eze broke the deadlock with a stunning strike from outside the box. He then turned provider for Ismaila Sarr, who quickly doubled Palace’s lead. Eddie Nketiah added further shine to the scoreline as a second-half substitute.

After a difficult start to the season, Palace have become one of England’s in-form teams. Under Oliver Glasner, they have climbed to 12th in the Premier League in recent months. The Eagles have won their last six away games, including a 2-0 win at Craven Cottage last month, and now believe they can win the FA Cup for the first time.

Palace were also able to welcome back French striker Jean-Philippe Mateta for the first time since he required 25 stitches for an ear wound suffered in his side’s fifth-round win over Millwall four weeks ago.

However, it was Eze who was Palace’s match-winner, delivering two decisive moments in quick succession. The 26-year-old cut inside on his favored right foot to curl a shot off the far post and open the scoring on 34 minutes.