Crystal Palace 1-4 Fulham
Pajtim Kasami’s stunning strike set Fulham on their way to an emphatic win at Selhurst Park.
The Swiss star cancelled out defender Adrian Mariappa’s early opener with an unstoppable volley before goals from Steve Sidwell, Dimitar Berbatov and Philippe Senderos earned the Cottagers their second win on the spin in front of owner Shahid Khan.
Palace had started the brighter, with Dwight Gayle denied by the returning Maarten Stekelenburg, but the Fulham keeper was picking the ball out of his net minutes later.
Jason Puncheon’s deflected cross from the left hung in the air, and Eagles defender Mariappa somehow out jumped Brede Hangeland to nod the ball in from close range.
The hosts continued to dominate, with Stuart O’Keefe firing wide of Stekelenburg’s right-hand post.
However, Fulham levelled against the run of play just before the 20-minute mark with a goal of the season contender.
Sascha Riether chipped the ball forward to the onrushing Kasami, who controlled the ball on his chest before smashing an unstoppable volley across Julian Speroni into the top corner to silence the Selhurst Park faithful.
Fulham took the lead on the stroke of half-time with another stunning strike.
Bryan Ruiz’s free-kick cannoned back off the wall, only for Sidwell to fire a dipping volley over the stranded Speroni from the edge of the box.
Palace had a let off at the beginning of the second half when Speroni’s clearance hit Berbatov, but the keeper made amends to turn Darren Bent’s stinging effort around the post.
But from the resulting corner, Berbatov glanced home Ruiz’s inswinging corner to give the visitors a two-goal cushion and leave Palace with a mountain to climb.
Fulham wrapped up victory on 55 minutes when Senderos found himself unmarked at the back post from another Ruiz corner to volley the ball through Speroni and make it 4-1.
Gayle had the ball in the net for Palace just after the hour mark, only to see his effort chalked off by the linesman’s flag, as the Whites ran out easy winners.
Fulham: Stekelenburg, Riether, Senderos, Hangeland (Amorebieta 46), Richardson, Ruiz, Parker, Sidwell, Kasami, Berbatov (Rodallega 90), Bent (Duff 77).
Subs (not used): Stockdale, Zverotic, Boateng, Karagounis.
