Eddie Nketiah provided the decisive moment as Crystal Palace defeated Fulham to book their place in the last eight of the Carabao Cup.
The forward struck eight minutes before half-time, converting Óscar Mingueza’s run and cross with a composed one-touch finish. That effort proved enough in a closely contested match and gave Palace a notable away victory.
Speaking after the game, Nketiah described the result as a “really professional performance”, while acknowledging that the Eagles had to work hard during difficult spells. Palace made several changes compared with their opponents, giving a number of players the opportunity to impress.
The goal also continued Nketiah’s impressive record at Craven Cottage. He has now scored there in each of the last three seasons, across three different domestic competitions, with Palace winning on every occasion.
Nketiah explained that his understanding with Mingueza helped create the opening, saying he knew what the defender could deliver after finding him in training before. The result leaves Palace looking ahead to the quarter-finals, with the striker emphasising the team’s desire to continue challenging for silverware.
