Premier League - Saturday 30th August 2025, 12:30 PM
Chelsea2
(1)
-
(0)
0
Fulham
Attendance: 0
Referee: Robert Jones (Wirral)
Match events
George
14
Delap
14
Caicedo (f)
38
Pedro
45
Fernández pen
56
59
Jimenez
59
Muniz
60
Wilson
60
Castagne
67
Robinson
67
Sessegnon
67
Smith Rowe
67
King
Gittens
68
Estevao
68
73
Iwobi (f)
James
81
Neto
81
Santos
81
George
81
84
Traore
84
Iwobi
Santos (f)
93
96
Lukic (tw)
Match review
Match Report
Chelsea (1) 2-0 (0) Fulham
Premiership Match Day 03 25/26 at Stamford Bridge
Saturday 30th August 2025 KO: 12:30
Referee:
Robert Jones (Wirral)
Live on TNT Sports
|
| Match Stats |
Chelsea |
Fulham |
| Goals |
(1) 2 |
0 (0) |
|
| Scorers |
Pedro 45+9 |
- |
|
Fernandez pen 58 |
- |
| , |
| Goal attempts |
13 |
11 |
| On target |
6 |
3 |
| Shooting Accuracy |
46% |
27% |
| Possession |
55% |
45% |
| Passes |
491 |
396 |
| Passes Success |
87% |
81% |
| Crosses |
13 |
15 |
| Crosses Success |
31% |
33% |
-->
| Corners |
6 |
4 |
| Tackles |
9 |
11 |
| Tackles Success |
47% |
38% |
| Saves |
1 |
4 |
| Fouls |
11 |
17 |
| Offsides |
3 |
1 |
| Yellows |
2 |
2 |
| Reds |
0 |
0 |
| source: SkySports |
Fulham lost out 2-0 by Chelsea on Saturday in a contest mired in VAR controversy at Stamford Bridge.
Josh King thought he had a fairytale first senior goal when he raced through and coolly slotted inside the near post, but – after being sent to the monitor – referee Rob Jones announced to the crowd that he was penalising Rodrigo Muniz for “a careless challenge” on Trevoh Chalobah.
That move was one of many promising moments from the Whites as we dominated the first half, but we went in trailing to Joao Pedro’s header as the clock ticked into the 10th minute of stoppage time, despite only eight being added.
VAR stepped in again early in the second half to recommend Jones had a look at some replays after a cross had hit Ryan Sessegnon’s arm, and the referee found in favour of the home side once more. More frustration, as it looked like there may have been a couple of fouls, and a handball, by players in blue in the build-up.
Enzo Fernandez dispatched the spot-kick, making it a very salt in wounds afternoon for Fulham indeed.
Marco Silva named an unchanged side from the one that drew with Manchester United in our previous Premier League encounter.
Five minutes in, Bernd Leno was called into a routine save to keep out Pedro’s daisycutter, before a brave Joachim Andersen block was required seconds later to divert away Liam Delap’s piledriver.
Our number five’s next contribution was up the other end, pinching possession high up the pitch and playing a one-two with Timothy Castagne, only to bend his shot wide on his weaker left foot.
There was a disruption to the match when Delap needed to be substituted after pulling his hamstring, with the Whites next to threaten after the restart when Alex Iwobi dragged an effort wide from 20 yards.
We thought the lead was ours when King lashed an effort inside the near post after being sent clear by a stunning Sander Berge pass, but VAR came out of nowhere to intervene with an apparent foul by Muniz.
The Fulham man had caught the toe of Chalobah mid-pirouette earlier in the move, but the contact was minimal and Chalobah was the one who initiated it.
The flummoxing nature of the decision could have caused Fulham heads to implode, but the boys responded well, with King shaking off the disappointment of being robbed of a first senior goal by drawing a low stop from Robert Sanchez.
Fulham had dominated the first half and almost took the lead (again) in stoppage time when Saša Lukic put the ball through the legs of Marc Cucurella to free King who cut back to Castagne, but his shot was bravely blocked.
A rare Chelsea threat emerged in the ninth of eight added minutes, but Leno made a smart stop to put Tyrique George’s close range effort behind.
Unfortunately, that set-piece brought about the opener, with Pedro nodding in Fernandez’s delivery.
The VAR theme continued in the second half.
After Berge had been pushed after trying to challenge for a high ball and it had hit Pedro’s hand, and Iwobi had his toe stood on, the ball dropped to Malo Gusto who sent a cross into the box that was blocked by Sessegnon’s arm.
No penalty was given but again Jones was sent to the screen, and again he agreed with VAR Michael Salisbury, despite Sess having his back turned as the ball came in.
Leno was unable to keep out Fernandez’s penalty, but he made two excellent stops afterwards to deny Estevao and Pedro.
He was at it again with five to play when a deflected pass dropped fortuitously for Pedro who smashed an effort under the bar, only for Leno to pull off a ridiculous reflex save.
Fulham went up the other end to fashion a chance between two substitutes, with Raúl Jiménez heading Adama Traoré’s delivery over.
It looked like we had halved the deficit in stoppage time when Andersen leapt highest to meet Lukic’s corner, but his header was hacked off the line by Pedro, summing up Fulham’s fortunes on a strange afternoon down the road.
Chelsea : Sanchez, Gusto, Chalobah, Tosin, Cucurella, Caicedo, Fernandez, Estevao (Gittens 68), Pedro, Neto (James 81), Delap (George 14 (Santos 81))
Unused substitutes: Jorgensen, Essugo, Hato, Fofana, Acheampong
Goals:
Pedro 45+9 (header from very close range to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Enzo Fernandez with a cross following a corner.)
Fernandez pen 58 (converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the centre of the goal.)
Yellow Card: Caicedo (f,38), Santos (f,93)
Fulham: Leno, Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Sessegnon (Robinson 67), Lukic, Berge, Castagne (Wilson 60), King (Smith Rowe 67), Iwobi (Traore 84), Muniz (Jimenez 59)
Unused substitutes: Reed, Cairney, Cuenca, Lecomte
Yellow Card: Iwobi (f,73), Lukic (tw,96)
Referee:
Robert Jones (Wirral)
Attendance: N/A
Fulham are next in action at 15.00 Saturday, 13th September, when they welcome Leeds United to Craven Cottage.