Crystal Palace stormed into the FA Cup semifinals with a dominant 3-0 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage on Saturday, inspired by Eberechi Eze’s brilliance.
The England international delivered a stunning goal and a precise assist within four minutes, setting the tone for an emphatic win.
Fresh off scoring his first goal for England against Latvia on Monday, Eze opened the scoring in spectacular fashion, curling a shot in off the post from outside the box in the 34th minute.
Moments later, he showcased his playmaking ability by gliding past Sander Berge and delivering an inch-perfect left-footed cross for Ismaila Sarr, who nodded home at the near post.
Palace, who welcomed back Jean-Philippe Mateta after a four-week absence due to an ear injury, continued their fine form under Oliver Glasner.
The Eagles have now won six consecutive away matches, including a league triumph at Fulham last month, and have surged to 12th in the Premier League table.
Eddie Nketiah, introduced as a second-half substitute for Mateta, sealed the win with a composed finish past his former Arsenal teammate Bernd Leno, marking his third goal in four games.
For Fulham, currently chasing a top-five Premier League finish and a potential Champions League spot, the loss ended their FA Cup dreams.
Elsewhere in the competition, Brighton and Nottingham Forest squared off in another quarter-final clash.
Forest had stunned Brighton with a 7-0 rout last month, but Roberto De Zerbi’s men entered the tie in fine form, having won six of their last seven games, including a hard-fought 2-2 draw with Manchester City.
City remain favourites to lift the trophy but must overcome Bournemouth in Sunday’s quarter-final to stay on course.
With their Premier League title hopes slipping, the FA Cup represents their last shot at silverware this season.
Meanwhile, Aston Villa travel to second-tier Preston on Sunday morning, aiming to keep their ambitions alive for a first major trophy since 1996.
