Crystal Palace earned their first win of the Premier League season, as they twice came from a goal down to beat Fulham 3-2 at Craven Cottage, with all three goals coming from the left-backs: Tyrick Mitchell with a brace and Ben Chilwell with the winner 12 minutes from time.
Needing to get that first win of the season under their belts, Palace started a bit shaky, and were nearly made to pay in the opening three minutes when Timothy Castagne found himself on the edge of the box, firing a fizzing effort just wide of the left corner.
It wouldn’t be long before Palace were punished though, as Oscar Bobb pulled a cross back to the edge of the box, which was not intercepted by Adam Wharton, and landed at the feet of Josh King, the youngster’s shot deflected in off Jaydee Canvot.
Palace thought they’d levelled it five minutes later when Yéremy Pino played an incredible cross with the outside of his boot, which was tapped home by Daichi Kamada, only for VAR to get involved and deem the Japanese international offside.
Fulham were tearing Crystal Palace apart in the opening 25 minutes, King at the heart of it once more as he went on a dazzling run down the right, pulling the ball back to Bobb, whose effort was cleared off the line by the Eagles.
Moments after Eddie Nketiah had a chance to level the game for Palace, Sage’s side had another big chance as Kamada’s cutback seemed destined for the boot of Quinten Timber.
The increased tempo paid off for Palace, as they found their leveller in the 35th minute with Nketiah firing the ball wide to Mitchell, and the left-wing back smashed his effort, which nestled into the middle of the goal despite Bernd Leno getting a fingertip to the shot.
However, the Eagles were to be punished for poor defending just seven minutes later as César Palacios scored his first goal for Fulham a couple of minutes before half-time.
A driving run from Josh King saw the ball pulled across, bounced off Canvot and needed a stunning reaction save from Dean Henderson, only for Palacios to turn home the rebound.
It’s the first time in Palace’s history that they have conceded at least two goals in nine consecutive league games.
In truth, it was a deserved lead for Fulham, but Pierre Sage had a lot to think about going into the second half. In an attempt to change things, Eddie Nketiah was substituted at half-time for Jørgen Strand Larsen.
Things didn’t seem to improve in the early stages of the second half, though, as Palacios came close to a brace, and a third goal of the game for Fulham, spinning and firing just wide of the left corner.
Palace were level on 56 minutes though, with Mitchell at the heart of it again; the ball ricocheted around the box, and Gonzalo García tried to clear it, only for the ball to bounce off the wing-back and roll into the Fulham net, despite the Spanish forward’s desperate attempts to clear the ball off the line.
In the space of 19 minutes, the England international had already scored double the number of goals that he’d managed in the last two Premier League seasons.
It seemed to be a day for the wing-backs as Mitchell was replaced by Chilwell, who fired home a volley for a 3-2 lead with 12 minutes to go, in what was pretty much his first touch. An unbelievable way to mark his return to the club.
Fulham continued to push forward though, with Henderson required to make a reaction save to deny Rodrigo Muniz. Moments later, the hosts missed a golden chance to make it 3-3, King pulling the ball back which sat up nicely for Muniz, only for the Brazilian to fire the ball over from close range.
The away end erupted as Palace secured those first three points of the new Premier League season, a much-needed one for Pierre Sage too, as he got his first win on the board as manager.
For Fulham now, though, questions will begin to emerge about Arbeloa on how they did not manage to come away with any points, let alone all three, considering they’d led twice in the game.
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