Eddie Nketiah’s header saw Crystal Palace beat ten-men Millwall 3-1 at Selhurst Park to reach the Quarter-Finals of 2024-25 FA Cup.
Nketiah sealed Palace’s progression into the Quarter-Finals with his 81st minute header into the top-left corner from Chris Richards’ headed pass, with the defender having initially met Eberechi Eze’s cross into the box.
Japhet Tanganga headed Palace in front with a 33rd minute nodded own-goal from Will Hughes’ cross, after Millwall’s Liam Roberts had been red carded in the eighth minute following a dangerous high left-footed tackle on Jean-Philippe Mateta two minutes earlier.
Daniel Munoz added Palace’s second goal from a scruffy 40th minute deflection by Tanganga, after Eddie Nketiah had been brought down as he met Munoz’s initial knockdown touch.
Wes Harding had offered Millwall futile hope with his rebound strike in the 13th minute of first-half injury time.
Palace now join Aston Villa in the Quarter-Final draw which takes place after Manchester United’s tie against Fulham tomorrow (2 March), whilst Preston beat Burnley 3-0 in the Lancashire derby to book their spot in the last eight for the first time since 1965-66 season.
Speaking to BBC Sport post-match, Nketiah sent his best wishes to Mateta but is happy that the Eagles have progressed to the Quarter-Finals,
“Sad for JP, hopefully he gets back soon. It was nice to get some minutes. Every player wants to play. We have a really good squad, a real togetherness. The fans are amazing here. One step closer.”
With just six miles between Palace and Millwall, this South London derby was always destined to be fiery but tempers took a mere six minutes to boil over, as Mateta got a high left-footed tackle in his face from Millwall goalkeeper, Roberts.
Referee, Michael Oliver initially declared the collision as an accident until VAR intervened and sent him to the pitchside monitor, with him left with no option just two minutes later other than to red card Roberts for his dangerous tackle.
Play resumed after a ten-minute delay as Mateta received treatment but his replacement, Nketiah was quickly in the thick of the action, as his 17th minute goal was disallowed after an initial handball as he met Ben Chilwell’s knockdown header of Will Hughes’ cross.
Post-match, Mateta took to Instagram to thank football fans for their “kind messages” and vowed to be back as soon as he is able to be fit enough to play again.
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Josh Coburn forced a late save from Matt Turner as the Millwall forward turned a throw-in towards the left corner in the 20th minute.
Palace soon got on top as Nketiah, Eze, Munoz and Ben Chilwell saw shots blocked by various Millwall players.
Chilwell’s blocked attempt however won Palace a 33rd minute corner, which was cleared but quickly worked out to Eze who teed up Hughes to curl into the far right corner but Tanganga nodded the delivery into his own goal to put the Eagles ahead.
That opening goal sparked Palace into further life and they found their second goal just seven minutes later as a cross was knocked down by Munoz towards Nketiah, who found himself brought down but the ball was scruffily deflected by Tanganga for Munoz to smash in to put the hosts two goals up against their local rivals.
Millwall however roared some hope back into their fading FA Cup dreams in the 13th minute of first-half injury-time as Matt Turner deflected a low shot, which fell for Harding to rifle in via Chilwell’s deflection to reduce the Lions’ deficit at half-time.
That goal sparked Millwall on to chase a second-half equaliser as Femi Azeez saw a 52nd minute shot blocked, before Coburn then saw his flicked shot from Azeez’s low cross saved 12 minutes later.
Ex Millwall graduate, Romain Esse came on for Palace in the 65th minute against his former team following his January move but initially made a quiet impact, as Millwall went close through Mihailo Ivanovic’s header from a corner four minutes later which was saved.
Palace wrapped up victory in the 81st minute from Eze’s cross into the box which was headed on by Richards, with Nketiah left free to loop his header into the top-left corner as the South London-born 25 year-old had the ultimate say on the destiny of this local derby.
What’s Next?
Palace turn their attention back to the Premier League on Saturday 8 March at home to relegation-battling Ipswich in a 3pm GMT kick-off.
Millwall meanwhile return to second-tier action on Tuesday 4 March (7:45pm) with a home clash against Bristol City as both teams battle for a play-off spot.
Teams
Crystal Palace: Matt Turner, Chris Richards, Maxence Lacroix, Marc Guehi, Daniel Munoz (Clyne 90′), Jefferson Lerma (Devenny 90′), Will Hughes (Wharton 65′), Ben Chilwell, Ismaila Sarr (Esse 65′), Eberechi Eze (Franca 85′), Jean-Philippe Mateta (Nketiah 15′)
Substitutes: Nathaniel Clyne, Justin Devenny, Matheus Franca, Dean Henderson, Daichi Kamada, Romain Esse, Tyrick Mitchell, Eddie Nketiah, Adam Wharton
Millwall: Liam Roberts, Wes Harding (Emakhu 85′), Japhet Tanganga, Jake Cooper, Joe Bryan, Casper de Norre (Honeyman 66′), Billy Mitchell (Saville 66′), Camiel Neghli (Bangura-Williams 33′), Luke Cundle (Jensen 13′), Femi Azeez, Josh Coburn (Ivanovic 66′)
Substitutes: Raees Bangura-Williams, Aidomo Emakhu, George Honeyman, Mihailo Ivanovic, Lukas Jensen, Zak Sturge, George Saville, Murray Wallace, Ryan Wintle
Referee – Michael Oliver
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