Eagles soar into FA Cup semi-final with comfortable win over Cottagers

Adam Wharton was perhaps fortunate not be given his marching orders when he appeared to kick out at Muniz just minutes after picking up a yellow card.

Palace had offered very little threat very little in the opening exchanges. So it came largely against the run of play when they went closest to taking the lead, Jefferson Lerma crashing a sublime volley against the crossbar with Bernd Leno well beaten in the Fulham goal.

But if mere inches denied the away fans a special FA Cup moment, that would all be forgotten moments later when Eze picked up the ball on the left-hand side. The England man, who scored his first senior international goal on Monday, cut inside and bent a sumptuous strike into the far corner to give Palace the lead.

The Eagles were soaring. Less than five minutes after putting his side in front, Eze again had the ball on the left. This time the Palace number 10 turned provider, delivering a teasing cross which was met by the head of Sarr to double the south Londoner’s advantage.