Crystal Palace dramatically climbed into the Premier League's top four after captain Marc Guehi headed a late winner to secure a 2-1 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday.
A London Derby Decided at the Death
The match, a keenly contested London derby, appeared to be heading for a draw until the 87th minute. With just three minutes of normal time remaining, Eagles skipper Marc Guehi rose highest to power home a header from Yeremy Pino's corner, sending the travelling support into raptures and snatching all three points for the visitors.
The result sees Oliver Glasner's side leapfrog several rivals into fourth place in the table, a position that would secure qualification for European football's premier club competition, the Champions League.
Twists and Turns at Craven Cottage
The game had begun brightly for the hosts, with Emile Smith Rowe seeing an early deflected effort fly over the bar. However, it was Palace who struck first against the run of play in the 20th minute. A fine pass from Adam Wharton found Eddie Nketiah, who marked his first league start of the season by calmly slotting into the bottom corner.
Fulham responded well and deservedly levelled seven minutes before half-time. Harry Wilson produced a moment of sublime quality, exchanging passes with Raul Jimenez before curling a beautiful finish with the outside of his left foot past Dean Henderson from the edge of the area.
The second half was equally fraught. Fulham thought they had completed the turnaround shortly after the restart when Smith Rowe tapped in a rebound, but the goal was ruled out for a marginal offside by VAR after a lengthy check, much to the home crowd's frustration.
Glasner's Gamble Pays Off
As the game wore on, Palace boss Oliver Glasner made a tactical shift to solidify his midfield, a decision that ultimately allowed his team to finish the stronger. After surviving periods of Fulham pressure, including a Timothy Castagne goal-line clearance to deny Nketiah a second, the Eagles pushed for a winner.
Their persistence was rewarded when Guehi, the defensive rock, turned match-winner. His thumping header from Pino's delivery on Sunday 07 December 2025 proved decisive, leaving Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno with no chance.
The final whistle confirmed a vital three points for Crystal Palace, whose unexpected charge towards the Champions League places continues to gather momentum. For Fulham, it was a cruel defeat after a performance that merited at least a point.
