EPL: Chelsea Clinch 2-0 Win Over Fulham with Joao Pedro's Stunning Header

Chelsea defeat Fulham 2-0

Chelsea beats Fulham 2-0 with Joao Pedro's header and Enzo Fernandez's penalty, but Liam Delap's injury casts a shadow over the win.

Despite dominating the first 45 minutes, Fulham's efforts were ultimately punished by Joao Pedro's...

Joao Pedro's impressive scoring streak continued as Chelsea edged out Fulham 2-0 at Stamford Bridge, thanks in part to some contentious refereeing decisions. Pedro headed Chelsea's opener in first-half injury time, netting his fifth goal in five starts across all competitions since joining from Brighton for £55 million.

The game's narrative, however, revolved around referee Robert Jones' pivotal calls. Fulham's Josh King initially thought he'd given his side the lead, only for the VAR to disallow the goal due to a “careless challenge” by Rodrigo Muniz on Trevoh Chalobah. Chelsea was later awarded a penalty after a four-minute VAR review, which Enzo Fernandez converted to double the lead.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca defended the VAR decisions, insisting Muniz's foul on Chalobah was “quite clear.” Conversely, Fulham's Marco Silva expressed frustration, labeling the disallowed goal “unbelievable” and questioning the consistency of VAR's application. Despite the win, Chelsea's dominance wasn't as pronounced, with Fulham pushing hard throughout the match.

The VAR, Michael Salisbury, intervened in the 21st minute to disallow Josh King's goal for Fulham due to Rodrigo Muniz being judged to have stepped on Trevoh Chalobah in the build-up. However, replays suggested minimal contact and that Muniz's action was a natural movement while playing with his back to goal.

Despite dominating the first 45 minutes, Fulham's efforts were ultimately punished by Joao Pedro's well-taken header from a Fernandez corner at the end of the half. The decision to disallow King's goal was confirmed by referee Anthony Jones after consulting the pitchside monitor.

London derby W for @ChelseaFC 🔵 pic.twitter.com/DUJtc46iKF

— Premier League (@premierleague) August 30, 2025

Enzo Fernandez sealed the win for Chelsea with a penalty kick after Ryan Sessegnon was deemed to have handled the ball in the box. The decision was contentious, with Fulham manager Marco Silva expressing his frustration with referee Robert Jones.

Chelsea's victory was marked by controversy surrounding the refereeing decisions. Despite losing striker Liam Delap to a hamstring injury early in the first half, Chelsea managed to secure a crucial win before the international break.

Joao Pedro's impact at Chelsea has been significant since he cut short his Brazilian beach vacation to join the team during the Club World Cup in July. He scored three goals in three starts, including the final against Paris St-Germain, and has carried this form into the Premier League.

In the Premier League, Pedro has already notched two goals and two assists in his first three league games, showcasing his impressive form. His performances have been a great start to the season for Chelsea.

Joao Pedro has made a remarkable impact at Chelsea, scoring five goals and providing two assists in his first five starts across all competitions. This impressive performance makes him the first Chelsea player to achieve this feat since Tammy Abraham in 2019.

Joao Pedro credits the similarity between Enzo Maresca's style of play and Roberto de Zerbi's, his former Brighton manager, as a key factor in his quick adaptation to Chelsea. Having previously played in the Premier League for Watford since 2020, Pedro's experience also contributed to his seamless integration into the team.

Joao Pedro's impressive start to the season is already justifying Chelsea's £55 million investment in him. However, concerns arise following Liam Delap's hamstring injury, which Enzo Maresca fears could keep him sidelined for six to eight weeks.

Delap's absence would be a significant blow, especially with Cole Palmer already out. Tyrique George was thrust into action, playing upfront for most of the match. Meanwhile, Christopher Nkunku joined AC Milan before the game, and Nicolas Jackson is nearing a loan move to Bayern Munich.