Heung-Min Son became the top Asian goalscorer in Premier League history as Tottenham ground out another win at Wembley.
Mauricio Pochettino's side had out-classed Zinedine Zidane's Real Madrid in North London in midweek. But Roy Hodgson's gameplan had more success in containing the Tottenham threat and
Wilf Zaha missed a glorious chance to give the Premier League's bottom club a shock lead before Son slotted home the 64th-minute winner from the edge of the box.
It was his 20th goal in the Premier League and overtook the record he had shared with his fellow South Korean Park Ji-sung.
The moment of inspiration was needed to lift a flat Tottenham perfomance which followed huge games against Manchester United and Real Madrid.
Dele Alli was out with a hamstring injury which will rule him out of England's friendlies with Brazil and Germany while the influential Hugo Lloris and Toby Alderweireld were also missing.
Palace could have had a penalty after three minutes when Tottenham's debutant keeper Paulo Gazzaniga clattered Mamadou Sakho. And Andros Townsend drew a fine low save from the Argentine two minute afgter the break.
But Wilf Zaha missed a golden chance after 57 minutes when Serge Aurier gifted possession to Townsend. He fed the Ivory Coast winger who rounded Gazzaniga only to shoot wide of an open goal.
Son missed the chance to double the lead when he shot into the sidenetting when clean through after 82 minutes.
Crystal Palace have still to keep a cleansheet in the Premier League this season or score an away goal. Former England boss Hodgson also suffered his first competitive defeat at Wembley.
Five talking points
Son Heung-Min’s second-half strike was enough for Tottenham to take all three points against Crystal Palace at Wembley.
On what was an often frustrating afternoon for Spurs, Son’s moment of magic ensured they would keep the heat on Manchester United in second place in the Premier League.
He curled home brilliantly from the edge of the area, past Julian Speroni into the bottom corner, after the ball had bounced around the penalty box.
But Palace also had their moments, with Wilfried Zaha missing a gilt-edged chance to fire them ahead earlier in the second period.
GOAL! Tottenham 1-0 Crystal Palace (Son)
What a strike from Son!
After pinball in the penalty area, the ball breaks to the Korean who curls beautifully past Julian Speroni into the bottom corner.
Relief for Spurs, who had struggled to break Palace down.
1-0!
The lineups
Spurs XI: Gazzaniga, Aurier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Rose, Dier, Winks, Sissoko, Eriksen, Son, Kane.
Subs: Trippier, Nkoudou, Llorente, Dembele, Foyth, Davies, Whiteman.
Crystal Palace XI: Ward, Dann, Sakho, Fosu-Mensah, Milivojevic, Cabaye, Schlupp, Loftus-Cheek, Townsend, Zaha.
Subs: Tomkins, Hennessey, McArthur, Souare, Sako, Puncheon, Riedewald.
Welcome...
Tottenham are without Hugo Lloris and Toby Alderweireld.
Lloris sustained a groin injury and Alderweireld a hamstring strain against Real Madrid on Wednesday but Harry Kane came through the match unscathed after shaking off his own hamstring problem.
Erik Lamela is not yet ready to return, however, after a year-long issue with his hips while Victor Wanyama also remains out with a knee injury.
Mamadou Sakho and James McArthur will both be in contention for Crystal Palace, meanwhile.
Defender Sakho and midfielder McArthur both returned to training following their respective calf and ankle injuries.
Patrick Van Aanholt is a doubt because of a hamstring injury, but could yet train on Saturday. Chung Yong Lee (hamstring) has been ruled out and the game will come too soon for striker Christian Benteke (knee).
Tottenham squad: Vorm, Gazzaniga, Rose, Davies, Walker-Peters, Vertonghen, Sanchez, Foyth, Trippier, Aurier, Dier, Winks, Sissoko, Georgiou, Dembele, Alli, Eriksen, Son, Llorente, Kane.
Crystal Palace squad: Speroni, Hennessey, Ward, Kelly, Fosu-Mensah, Dann, Sakho, Delaney, Riedwald, Tomkins, Van Aanholt, Souare, Schlupp, Mutch, Milivojevic, McArthur, Puncheon, Cabaye, Ladapo, Kaikai, Loftus-Cheek, Zaha, Townsend, Sako.