Crystal Palace secured their first victory of the season, defeating Fulham 3-2 at Craven Cottage with a late goal from substitute Ben Chilwell. The win, Palace's first under new manager Pierre Sage, puts pressure on Fulham boss Alvaro Arbeloa, whose team remains winless.
Fulham took the lead twice through goals from Josh King and Cesar Palacios. However, Crystal Palace equalized both times with two goals from defender Tyrick Mitchell, who had only scored four times in his previous 209 Premier League appearances. Mitchell's second equalizer came after a defensive error from Fulham.
The decisive moment arrived in the 77th minute when Ben Chilwell, recently rejoined from Strasbourg, scored the winner just minutes after entering the match. The entertaining, end-to-end contest saw both goalkeepers frequently tested.
Sage's tactical substitutions proved crucial. He replaced Eddie Nketiah with Jorgen Strand Larsen at halftime, a move that increased Palace's attacking threat. The introduction of Strand Larsen provided a more effective focal point up front, especially with Jean-Philippe Mateta expected to be out for several more weeks. Chilwell's late strike sealed the victory, marking a significant shift for Palace.
Fulham's Josh King, a 19-year-old prospect, had an impressive individual performance. He opened the scoring with a deflected shot and was instrumental in Palacios' goal. Thomas Tuchel was among the spectators at Craven Cottage, and King's display may have caught his attention. Palace midfielder Adam Wharton, also a player of interest, had a less impactful game, contributing to Fulham's opening goal.
Fulham (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson (Sessegnon 79); Charles (Smith Rowe 79), Iwobi (Muniz 83); Bobb (Larsson 79), King, Palacios (Berge 62); Garcia.
Crystal Palace (3-4-2-1): Henderson; Richards, Disasi, Canvot; Khalaili, Timber (Hughes 74), Wharton, Mitchell (Chilwell 74); Kamada (Osorio 89), Pino (Mingueza 89); Nketiah (Strand Larsen 46).