Key moments and how the game shifted

– 3’: Fulham combined crisply down the right, Bobb surged and squared, and Robinson guided home with his left.
– 33’: From a corner sequence, Chris Richards supplied the assist and Sarr finished with his right from close range.
– 47’: Fresh legs, fresh idea. Will Hughes and Daichi Kamada helped progress the move, Óscar Mingueza delivered the final pass, and França struck low to the near corner past Benjamin Lecomte.

Crucially for Palace, the half-time subs mattered. Mingueza, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Hughes and França all came on at the break, and the visitors’ attacking patterns immediately looked sharper. For Fulham, changes also arrived at the interval with Lecomte replacing Bernd Leno, Timothy Castagne on for Kenny Tete and Sander Berge for Harrison Reed. Palace’s winner arriving at 47 minutes underlined how quickly the away bench paid off.

What the numbers say

Fulham’s shape with the ball was dominant. They controlled 67% possession, completed 682 passes to Palace’s 328 and made 65 final-third entries to 34. They also sent 12 of 16 shots from inside the box and led shots on target 5-4. Territory and volume were there.

Palace, though, were cleaner in the duels and more efficient where it counted. The visitors won 54% of all duels, posted a 74% tackle success rate and made 19 tackles to Fulham’s 11. Interceptions leaned Palace 12-9, and they blocked seven shots to Fulham’s four. Crossing accuracy told its own tale too. Palace finished 8 of 16 crosses at 50% while Fulham landed only 5 of 17 at 29%. On corners, Fulham led 11-6 but Palace scored from a dead-ball phase.

Chance quality is best read via big-chance data here. Expected goals read 0.00 for both teams in this friendly feed, so the big chances column does the lifting. Palace created three and converted one, missing two, while Fulham created two and scored one. Fulham’s César Palacios struck the woodwork and missed a big chance, a fine margin that kept Palace in front during a second half they largely defended.

Fulham’s plan, control and the missing final touch

There was plenty to like in Álvaro Arbeloa’s set-up. The Cottagers progressed well, using their full backs to climb the pitch and their midfield to recycle quickly. Accurate long balls worked at 70% and dribbles succeeded 13 of 22. They also produced 33 touches in the Palace penalty area and generated five shots on target.

The finishing phase was the gap. Seven shots flew off target, seven were blocked and cross success lagged. After the break, Fulham camped in Palace territory with 74% possession and 317 accurate passes. Yet they forced only one shot on target in the half and could not find the run or the cut-back to match their volume. Palace’s compact line with athletic wing-backs squeezed the wide lanes that fed early joy for the opener.

Changes did add directness. Sander Berge kept the ball moving with 41 of 45 passes and Castagne’s service from the right was an outlet. Late arrivals of Kevin and Rodrigo Muniz chased the equalizer, but Palace’s defenders managed the box, clearing 11 times to Fulham’s 13 and owning second balls. On Sofascore, Fulham’s average team mark sat at 7.24, decent but shaded by Palace’s 7.31.

Palace’s adjustments, aggression and end-product

Pierre Sage’s side endured an early punch but recovered impressively, using strong duel work and better crossing to flip the script. Palace’s best attacking metrics arrived through their wing-backs and wide midfielders, with quality delivery rather than volume. They were out-passed heavily yet made their entries count.

Half-time was decisive. Mingueza provided the winner’s assist after a neat pattern that ran through Hughes and Kamada. França, on for Jørgen Strand Larsen, added thrust and shot quality, finishing with a Sofascore Rating of 7.8, three shots and the match-winner. Sarr’s first-half return was just as valuable, with four shots, three accurate crosses and the equalizer for a 7.5 mark. Tomiyasu posted a sturdy 7.3 off the bench, offering two blocks and two tackles in 45 efficient minutes.

Defensively, Palace’s collective was sharp. They won 14 of 19 tackles in total and posted 12 interceptions. Even as Fulham lifted the tempo, Palace stayed compact, with Jaydee Canvot and the back unit cutting out through balls before they became chances. Walter Benítez made four saves in the first half to keep it level during the storm. From there, the visitors rode their structure.

Match MVP: Antonee Robinson, 7.9 Sofascore Rating

Robinson takes the Sofascore Player of the Match with a 7.9 Sofascore Rating and the game’s first statement. He scored the opener with his left foot and put two shots on target in 62 busy minutes. On the ball, he completed 31 of 36 passes and delivered a perfect 1 of 1 cross. He also produced two key passes and 53 touches, showing volume up the flank.

Defensively and in duels, Robinson held his ground. He won six duels, made two interceptions and two clearances, and registered one tackle won. He was progressive too, recording 13 ball carries, three progressive carries and over 48 meters of total progression. For a preseason match, that is a well-rounded left-back shift with both punch and control.

A nod as well to Palace’s top performers close behind. França’s decisive second-half cameo and Sarr’s first-half threat both drove the result. But for timing, impact and complete contribution in all phases, Robinson’s performance stands out on Sofascore.

Sofascore users can dive into live match momentum, heat maps and every player’s Sofascore Rating across friendlies like this. In a tight 2-1 that hinged on duels and detail, the dashboard matches the narrative perfectly.