Crystal Palace delivered a dominant performance at Craven Cottage, securing a commanding 3-0 victory over Fulham to advance to the FA Cup semifinals, ending the Lily Whites’ cup run at the quarter-final stage.

  

Despite featuring Nigerian internationals Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey, Fulham struggled to gain a foothold in the match, failing to break down a well-drilled Palace side.

  

Returning from injury, Jean-Philippe Mateta was handed his first start since his controversial tackle against Millwall in the previous round, adding an extra attacking threat to Oliver Glasner’s team.

  

Palace stamped their authority on the game early, dominating possession and testing Bernd Leno with a series of dangerous attempts. Their pressure paid off in the 34th minute when Eberechi Eze broke the deadlock with a composed finish from the edge of the box, leaving the Fulham defense scrambling.

  

Just four minutes later, Eze turned provider, sending in a perfectly placed cross that caught Fulham’s defenders off guard. Ismaïla Sarr capitalized on poor marking, beating Calvin Bassey at the near post to glance home a header and double Palace’s advantage.

  

Bassey, who has been a standout performer for Fulham this season, was caught ball-watching as Sarr ghosted into position unchallenged. The defensive lapse left the hosts with a mountain to climb.

  

After the halftime break, Marco Silva’s side desperately sought a way back into the game. Alex Iwobi attempted to spark a midfield revival, but Palace’s disciplined defensive shape frustrated Fulham’s attacking efforts.

  

Palace sealed the result in the 82nd minute when Eddie Nketiah punished another defensive error, sneaking in behind Fulham’s backline to slot the ball past Leno at the near post.

  

For Calvin Bassey, the match was a difficult one, as he struggled to contain Palace’s fast-paced attack. His misjudgment on the second goal will be a moment he would want to forget.

  

Calvin Bassey and Jean-Philippe Mateta. (Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)

  [/p]

Meanwhile, Alex Iwobi found it difficult to influence the game from midfield, struggling to create meaningful chances against a compact Palace defense.

  

With this heavy defeat, Fulham’s FA Cup journey comes to a disappointing end, shifting their focus to securing a strong finish in the Premier League.

  

Bassey, who has now played 30 games this season, has enjoyed some bright moments, including goals against Nottingham Forest in the league and Manchester United in the FA Cup. However, this night will be remembered as a difficult outing for the Nigerian center-back.

  

For Crystal Palace, this emphatic win secures a historic spot in the FA Cup semifinals, as they continue their dream run in the competition.