Chelsea snatched a dramatic 2-1 victory over Fulham in the dying moments of a frantic London derby at Craven Cottage in the Premier League, with Pedro Neto’s thunderous stoppage-time strike capping off a spirited second-half fightback that propelled the Blues back into the Champions League spots, at least temporarily. The match was similar to how it unfolded at Stamford Bridge in the reverse fixture when Fulham staged a similar comeback late in the second half to win it.
Alex Iwobi had given Fulham the lead midway through the first half, finishing off a sharp counter-attack with precision into the bottom corner. It was no less than the hosts deserved after dominating the opening 45 minutes. Chelsea looked sluggish, labored in possession, and rarely threatened Bernd Leno in goal. It was a performance their fans have seen far too often in recent months. Their only real effort of note before the break came from a tame Reece James free-kick that the Fulham keeper dealt with comfortably.
Recognizing the need for urgency, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca made bold changes at the interval. Jadon Sancho and Malo Gusto were introduced, injecting much-needed energy and directness. The difference was immediate. Chelsea began to move the ball quicker, with Cole Palmer drifting into pockets and Sancho combining well with Marc Cucurella down the left. The visitors carved out chances, but Leno stood firm, denying both Sancho and Neto as the pressure mounted.
Unlike in previous matches, the Blues kept the ball moving forward, helped in part by Fulham pressing high. However, they struggled to exploit the space vacated by the home side's aggressive press. The hosts remained motivated to protect their lead and complete what would have been their first-ever league double over Chelsea in the Premier League era.
George’s moment of magic
Then came the turning point. With just seven minutes remaining, Tyrique George, only just introduced, fired home from the edge of the box for his first Premier League goal. It came out of nowhere but was exactly what the Blues needed. The equalizer set the stage for an exciting finish to the match with all results still possible.
Fulham, rattled, began to retreat. Deep into stoppage time, Palmer moved into space and slipped the ball to Enzo Fernández, who picked out Neto on the edge of the box. The winger turned sharply, shrugged off his marker, and unleashed an unstoppable drive into the top right corner, sparking wild celebrations in the Chelsea dugout and among fans in the away stand.
It was a ruthless, late twist from a Chelsea side that had looked second-best for large spells. Fulham, meanwhile, will be left to rue missed opportunities and their failure to kill the game when they were in control. The result keeps them ninth, while Chelsea leapfrogs Champions League qualification rivals into the top five, carrying a sense of positivity not felt at the club in quite some time.
Next up, Fulham travel to already-relegated Southampton. Chelsea, buzzing from this dramatic derby win, will take on Everton at Stamford Bridge.