Late Ward goal earns Palace 2-2 draw at Fulham

Updated: May 20, 2023, 11:41 pm

Aleksandar Mitrovic celebrates after scoring for Fulham against Crystal Palace.
Aleksandar Mitrovic celebrates after scoring for Fulham against Crystal Palace.
Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images

A late goal by Joel Ward rescued a 2-2 draw for Crystal Palace at Fulham on Saturday, after the hosts' striker Aleksandar Mitrovic bagged two goals on his first start since serving an eight-match ban.

Fulham have 52 points from 37 games -- four behind ninth-placed Brentford -- and remain 10th. Palace, who have 44, move up to 11th ahead of Chelsea, who play leaders Manchester City on Sunday.

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The draw has snuffed out the west Londoners' faint hopes of securing European football with a top-seven finish, but keeps them on course for a first top-half finish since 2012.

"To be honest, overall I think we had the better chances," goalscorer Mitrovic said.

"Fair result. It was a good game, four goals and a fair draw in the end.

"It was really nice, a hard game after two months out for me. The legs got heavy, especially at the end of the game. I've been missing this feeling for a couple of months."

Palace took the lead in the 34th minute when Odsonne Edouard's fierce effort completed a sweeping counterattack after the Frenchman was played through on goal by Eberechi Eze following a Fulham corner.

Fulham forward Harry Wilson was hacked down by Tyrick Mitchell just before halftime and Mitrovic stepped up to thump his penalty past Sam Johnstone to level the game.

The Serbian, playing without a number on his back after a bloody nose left him in need of a new shirt, put Fulham ahead in the 61st minute with a bullet header from a Willian cross.

Palace took the initiative in the closing spell of the game and were finally rewarded for their perseverance, though the goal came from an unlikely source.

Captain Ward salvaged a point for Palace in the 83rd minute as he stabbed home a rebound after Fulham failed to defend a set-piece to score his first league goal since the 2018-19 season.

Palace, who have 44 points, move up to 11th ahead of Chelsea, who play leaders Manchester City on Sunday.