With a 4-0 demolition of struggling Everton on Sunday, Crystal Palace blasted into the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time in six years. The Eagles’ debut season under Patrick Vieira continued with goals from Marc Guehi, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Wilfried Zaha, and Will Hughes. Everton’s main goal currently is to stay in the Premier League, since they are precariously close to relegation.
Frank Lampard’s players only got their second league win in 12 games against Newcastle on Thursday, but they looked like they could build on that boost of confidence.
Michael Keane squandered a golden early opportunity, while Richarlison had two penalty claims denied.
However, once their fragility from set-pieces was revealed for the opening goal, there was no turning back.
Guehi was summoned into the England team for the first time this week, and he celebrated by heading in Michael Olise’s corner for his fourth goal since coming from Chelsea.
The trio of Olise, Zaha, and Eberechi Eze then began to rip Everton apart, none more so than in the second goal’s fluid move.
Eze’s quick feet let Zaha free down the left flank, and Mateta swept in his low cross.
Everton struggled to reclaim the lead, with Demarai Gray’s long-range effort flying wide the closest they came to a reaction.
However, two more goals in the final 11 minutes sealed an emphatic Palace victory.
After Olise’s shot looped up against the crossbar, Zaha pounced to score his 10th goal of the season.
Hughes then added his first goal since 2019 on the rebound after Jordan Pickford made a spectacular save to deny Connor Gallagher.
Palace joins Chelsea in the last four, with Southampton hosting Manchester City and Liverpool visiting Nottingham Forest in the other two quarter-final matches on Sunday.