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Pedro Neto delivered a stunning 93rd-minute goal, allowing Chelsea to secure a thrilling 2-1 victory over Fulham, reigniting their ambitions for Champions League qualification. The match took a dramatic turn as Chelsea avoided what would have been a discouraging defeat, particularly after experiencing a disappointing first half that saw them booed off the pitch by their travelling supporters.
Fulham initially took the lead when Alex Iwobi found the net with a precise shot from the edge of the box, putting Chelsea under considerable pressure. Following a string of poor performances, Chelsea’s head coach, Enzo Maresca, faced increasing scrutiny with only one win in their previous four league matches. However, in a twist of fate, teenager Tyrique George managed to equalize in the 83rd minute, making an immediate impact after coming on to replace striker Nicolas Jackson.
Player ratings:
Fulham: Leno (7); Tete (6), Andersen (6), Bassey (6), Robinson (6); Berge (6), Lukic (6); Sessegnon (6), Pereira (6), Iwobi (7); Jimenez (6).
Subs: Cairney (6), Castagne (6), Wilson (6), Traore (n/a), Vinicius (n/a).
Chelsea: Sanchez (6); James (5), Chalobah (6), Colwill (6), Cucurella (6); Caicedo (7), Fernandez (7); Madueke (5), Palmer (6), Neto (8); Jackson (5).
Subs: Sancho (6), Gusto (6), George (8), Tosin (n/a).
Player of the Match: Pedro Neto
Neto’s decisive moment came just as the match seemed to be slipping away from Chelsea. With composure, he controlled the ball before turning sharply in the penalty area and unleashing a powerful shot that soared high into the net, securing a vital three points and lifting Chelsea into fifth place, just behind Manchester City.
In the second half, Maresca made pivotal substitutions, bringing on Malo Gusto and Jadon Sancho for captain Reece James and Noni Madueke, which contributed to Chelsea’s improved performance. Although still searching for their best form, Chelsea appeared more in control as they pushed for the win. Sancho tested Fulham’s goalkeeper Bernd Leno, and although Neto was denied earlier, the team maintained their resilience, reminiscent of their comeback against Ipswich the previous week.
Conversely, Fulham’s aspirations for European qualification faced a setback following two defeats this week, placing them ninth in the standings, just a point shy of eighth-placed Bournemouth.
Maresca: Chelsea’s season can become very good with CL spot
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca remarked:
“The goal from Pedro (Neto) does not alter my perspective on the season. For the last two years, Chelsea has been out of the Champions League spots, and this season we’ve spent all our time competing for them. Today’s win is significant, especially since it’s a derby and reinforces our position. This match was particularly challenging because our competitors for the Champions League had already played.”
“This was a must-win match. After conceding, we found it harder, but we performed much better in the second half.”
Silva: A harsh result
Fulham’s manager Marco Silva commented:
“We’re facing a tough moment. Our first half was commendable, displaying control and a good connection with our attacking players. We were the superior side during that period. However, we emphasized at half-time the need to start strong in the second half, but we failed to maintain our build-up play and make effective decisions.”
“In the second half, Chelsea created more dangerous opportunities than we did. Despite the quality of our first-half performance, it is disappointing to have lost the match.”
Story of the match in stats…
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