Crystal Palace wins 3-2 at Fulham as Ben Chilwell scores winner on debut

Crystal Palace came from two goals down to beat Fulham 3-2 at Craven Cottage on September 5, earning their first three points of the 2026/27 Premier League season. The hero of the afternoon: Ben Chilwell, who picked the perfect moment to announce himself on his debut.

Chilwell, who signed permanently for Palace on September 1 on a free transfer from Strasbourg, found the net in the 76th minute to complete a second-half comeback that had seemed unlikely at halftime.

A first half Palace would rather forget

Fulham came out swinging. Josh King opened the scoring in the 10th minute, and Palacios restored Fulham’s two-goal cushion in the 41st minute. Palace did manage to pull one back through Tyrick Mitchell, who struck in the 34th minute, but at halftime the scoreboard read 2-1 in favor of the Cottagers.

Mitchell’s heroics and an untimely exit

Tyrick Mitchell bagged his second of the match in the 53rd minute to drag Palace level at 2-2. Mitchell was then forced off with an injury in the 73rd minute, just three minutes before the moment that would define the match.

Chilwell’s perfect introduction

Ben Chilwell, who had previously spent time on loan at Crystal Palace during the 2024/25 season — contributing 11 appearances to the club’s FA Cup triumph — was no stranger to the club. Three minutes after Mitchell’s departure, Chilwell delivered the winner. His 76th-minute goal capped the comeback and gave Palace their first victory of the season.

Mitchell’s injury adds a note of concern. Losing your best performer to injury mid-comeback is a bittersweet outcome for Palace, though having both Mitchell and Chilwell available as options on the left side of defense could be a real asset as the season progresses.

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