Fulham 2-3 Crystal Palace: Chilwell scores late winner on return

Ben Chilwell marked his return to Crystal Palace with a dramatic late winner as Pierre Sage’s side came from behind twice to beat Fulham 3-2 at Craven Cottage.

The deadline-day signing from Strasbourg, who spent half of last season on loan from Chelsea at Selhurst Park, was introduced as a 74th-minute substitute and needed just three minutes to make an impact, netting the decisive goal to hand Sage his first win in charge.

Fulham had led twice through Josh King and Cesar Palacios either side of two Tyrick Mitchell equalisers, before Chilwell’s late intervention settled a thrilling encounter.

The hosts broke the deadlock in the 11th minute when Oscar Bobb’s cutback slipped past Adam Wharton and found King, whose shot took a deflection off Jaydee Canvot to wrong-foot Dean Henderson and creep in. Fulham thought they had doubled their lead soon after through Daichi Kamada, who finished well following good work between Eddie Nketiah and Yeremy Pino, but the goal was ruled out by VAR for offside.

Palace, boosted by several summer arrivals including Axel Disasi, began to work their way into the game, Disasi’s persistence in midfield setting up Chris Richards, who was denied by Bernd Leno in the 18th minute. At the other end, new signing Anan Khalaili produced two important blocks to keep Fulham’s attack at bay, while Richards did well to charge down a long-range effort from Gonzalo Garcia just after the half-hour.

Palace’s resistance paid off five minutes later when Mitchell levelled, Kamada’s pass finding Pino, who squared for Mitchell to hold off former team-mate Joachim Andersen and fire past Henderson at the near post. But Fulham responded almost immediately, restoring their lead in the 42nd minute through Palacios, who followed up after Henderson could only parry Garcia’s backheeled effort from King’s low cross. Palace had penalty appeals waved away by VAR when Nketiah went down under a challenge just before the break.

Mitchell struck for a second time in the 54th minute, latching onto a loose clearance after Garcia had blocked the initial ball forward, the winger’s touch trickling agonisingly over the line to make it 2-2. Henderson kept Fulham in it with sharp saves to deny both Palacios and Bobb before being replaced by Sander Berge in the 62nd minute.

The decisive moment arrived shortly after Chilwell’s introduction. Khalaili was scythed down by Leno after being played clean through, and although no penalty was given, Palace worked the loose ball to Chilwell, who announced his return in style with a crisp volley into the bottom corner.

Fulham threw everything at Palace in search of a leveller, but the visitors held firm, a crucial stoppage-time save preserving the win and leaving the Cottagers still searching for their first victory of the season.