Mateta Magic, Cairney Clutch: Crystal Palace and Fulham Share New Year's Spoils in Thriller

In a pulsating Premier League clash at Selhurst Park on New Year's Day, Crystal Palace and Fulham battled to an exhilarating 1-1 draw, extending Palace's winless run while Fulham salvaged a vital point on the road.

Jean-Philippe Mateta handed the hosts the lead in the 39th minute with a clinical finish, capitalizing on Palace's growing dominance after a cautious opening. The Eagles, desperate to snap a six-match winless streak across all competitions, pressed forward but couldn't extend their advantage despite Maxence Lacroix's header being clawed onto the crossbar by Fulham keeper Bernd Leno.[1][2][3]

Fulham, entering as the form side with three straight wins and four clean sheets in their last four Selhurst visits, fought back resiliently. Raúl Jiménez struck the post early in the second half, hinting at their threat. The Cottagers dominated possession at 60% and edged expected goals 1.91 to 1.62, firing 17 shots to Palace's 11.[2][3]

The drama peaked in the 80th minute when super-sub Tom Cairney unleashed a stunning strike from the edge of the box, rescuing a point for Marco Silva's men and denying Palace a much-needed victory. Late chances fell Fulham's way, with Timothy Castagne denied by Dean Henderson in added time, but the spoils were shared.[1][2][3]

Key moments defined the match: Mateta's opener came after Marc Guéhi was denied point-blank by Leno, while Harry Wilson spurned a golden chance for Fulham earlier. Defenders Joachim Andersen and Nathan Clyne featured prominently for Palace, with Bryan Sosa and Castagne notable for the visitors.[1][3]

This result leaves Crystal Palace searching for their first win since December 11, while Fulham maintain momentum in mid-table. Both sides now eye upcoming fixtures, with transfer whispers linking Palace to Brentford's Brennan Johnson.[3]