Palace's academy side narrowly missed out on earning a valuable point at league leaders Fulham after conceding late on to lose 2-1.
American forward Emerson Hyndman struck the decisive blow eight minutes from time to deny the battling Eagles a morale-boosting draw at Motspur Park.
In an entertaining game that ebbed and flowed throughout, the early spoils were even as both sides struggled to retain possession.
But with 15 minutes on the clock it was Fulham who drew first blood when Swedish striker Muamer Tankovic pounced on a knock down inside the box and fired into the bottom right hand corner beyond the reach of Palace keeper Tom King.
The visitors were visibly rocked by the goal and Fulham started to take control, with Cauley Woodrow and Tankovic both squandering chances to double the lead.
Palace regained their composure though and signalled their intent when Sullay Kaikai curled a free kick over from 20 yards.
And five minutes before the break they grabbed a well-deserved equaliser. A strong run from Javen Palmer down the right forced a corner and when the Fulham defence failed to clear his resulting cross, Connor Dymond pounced to level the scores.
The half-time interval worked in Fulham's favour and the Under-18 Elite Group leaders began the second half the stronger.
King was forced into a smart save from Patrick Roberts, before Tankovic turned provider for Woodrow who went equally close.
Just as they did in the first half, a spirited Palace side fought their way back into the game and created numerous chances of their own to force a winner, with Jerome Williams proving a handful with some rampaging runs from full-back.
Reise Allassani came within inches of giving the visitors the lead on 70 minutes, working himself a yard inside the box before unleashing a curling effort just wide of the upright.
The final 15 minutes was an end-to-end affair, with Fulham substitute Moussa Dembele coming close with a nonchalant chip that beat King but dropped just wide of the post.
Fulham began to take the upper hand and the hosts went close again after a neatly worked counter attack. Tom Richards picked out Tankovic with a clever cut-back from the left, but the young forward skewed his strike when he looked certain to bag his second.
On 82 minutes, the pressure finally paid off as Hyndman struck the winner. The former FC Dallas youngster showed great composure in front of goal to calmly slot past King.
Palace came close to snatching a point, as a cross-come-shot by Mandella Egbo threatened to dip in, before a late Dymond effort fizzed just wide.
But the Eagles were unable to find a last gasp equaliser and it was Fulham who picked up their seventh straight home win, despite an encouraging showing from Ben Garner's youngsters.
Palace: King, Inniss (Gordon 65), Khinda-John, Egbo (Udumaga 89), Williams, Dymond, Boateng, Gray, Allassani, Palmer, Kaikai (Tieku 46).
Fulham: Rodak, Passley, Arthurworrey, Donnelly, Richards, Sambou, Hyndman, Roberts, Della Verde (Dembele 65), Woodrow, Tankovic.
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