- Jeffrey Schlupp’s late scorcher cancelled out Rodrigo Muniz’s opener
- Crystal Palace were slick in possession and intense out of it but couldn’t finish
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For a team that can often be found on the beach at this time of year, Crystal Palace aren’t half riding the crest of a wave.
Oliver Glasner’s arrival has turned what looked doomed to be a season of stasis into something altogether more exciting, and here in a mid-table meeting with little up for grabs Palace looked anything but unmotivated.
Though they had to settle for a draw at Craven Cottage, Jeffrey Schlupp’s spectacular equaliser cancelling out Rodrigo Muniz’s opener for Fulham, Palace impressed in securing their 10th point from their last four games.
They were slick in possession, intense out of it, and with a little more composure in front of goal might have ran out comfortable winners.
‘It was a fully deserved point,’ said Glasner. ‘We had an excellent start with a lot of pressure and Fulham couldn’t get out of their half.
Jeffrey Schlupp scored a 20-yard screamer in the 87th minute to pinch a draw at Fulham
Rodrigo Muniz had resumed his scoring form with a header early in the second half
‘At 1-0, the players never gave up and it was an amazing goal from Jeffrey. I’m really pleased with the performance and the willingness and effort not to lose.’
Palace should have taken the lead inside six minutes. The impressive Adam Wharton played in Michael Olise, who had time and space inside the Fulham box but fired wide.
The visitors continued to probe and wanted a penalty when Daniel Munoz tumbled in the area, but in reality the Colombian had forced the contact.
Referee Stuart Attwell — rest assured Luton had no skin in the game here, Mr Marinakis — waved play on.
Jean-Philippe Mateta skewed a half-chance way over and Chris Richards went close at a free-kick as a Palace opener looked ever more inevitable.
It didn’t come, though, and Fulham sparked into life in the 52nd minute. Timothy Castagne’s pinpoint cross meant Muniz had the simplest of tasks in heading home his ninth goal in 13 games.
Oliver Glasner has transformed Palace’s season of stasis into a thrilling ride since coming in
They squandered multiple chances but this was a polished and energetic performance from Palace
That looked to have secured Fulham three points, but Schlupp had other ideas — rifling in an unstoppable shot from 25 yards out into the top-left corner of the net.
‘It was a fair result,’ insisted Fulham boss Marco Silva. ‘Our first half was not at our normal level, but we were a different team in the second.’
