EPL: Fulham Secure Dramatic 2-1 Victory Over Chelsea
Chelsea's 12-game unbeaten run came to an end as Fulham scored a stoppage-time winner to secure a dramatic 2-1 victory in the Premier League.
Chelsea had previously missed an opportunity to exert pressure on league leaders Liverpool, settling for a 0-0 draw at Everton last weekend. This result halted the Blues' eight-game winning streak across all competitions. Nevertheless, Chelsea remained second in the standings and had the chance to narrow the gap to a single point, at least temporarily, before Fulham's dramatic comeback.
Fulham is having a remarkable season, accumulating a club-record 25 points from 17 Premier League games. They created the first scoring opportunity, with Raúl Jiménez unleashing a shot from outside the box that was comfortably saved by Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sánchez.
Chelsea's breakthrough came courtesy of Cole Palmer's exceptional skill around the 15-minute mark. Collecting the ball 40 yards from goal, Palmer expertly beat two defenders before calmly slotting the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the box, showcasing his impressive individual brilliance.
Cole Palmer's goal marked his 12th league strike of the campaign and his 26th in 2024, a tally that surpasses all Chelsea players since Bobby Tambling's 27 goals in 1966.
Fulham responded resiliently to falling behind, with Calvin Bassey testing Robert Sánchez with a low shot. However, Chelsea nearly doubled their advantage before halftime, only for Bernd Leno to make a spectacular reaction save and deny Marc Cucurella.
Enzo Maresca's Fulham side started the second half strongly, with Leno producing a fingertip save to thwart Enzo Fernández. Shortly after, Chelsea thought they had scored again through Levi Colwill, but the goal was disallowed due to offside. Fulham continued to push forward, as Alex Iwobi curled a shot narrowly wide and Antonee Robinson forced Sánchez into a close-range save.
Fulham's persistence and determination ultimately paid off as the match neared its conclusion, and they secured a well-deserved equalizer to set up a thrilling finale.
Fulham's equalizing goal came from a clever combination of substitutes, as Antonee Robinson's cross into the box was headed goalward by Rodrigo Muniz, allowing Harry Wilson to nod the ball over the line and level the score.
Just as a draw seemed inevitable, Fulham delivered a devastating blow in the dying moments of the match. A swift counter-attack culminated in Muniz scoring the winning goal, securing a historic victory for the visitors at Stamford Bridge – their first since 1979. This dramatic turnaround deals a significant blow to Chelsea's title aspirations.
The outcome vindicates Enzo Maresca's assertion that Fulham is not yet equipped for a top-of-the-table battle. Conversely, Fulham's triumph underscores their impressive form, with only one loss in their last 10 league matches. Marco Silva deserves considerable credit for his exceptional work in guiding Fulham to this success.
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