Match Report
Chelsea (1) 1-2 (0) Fulham
Premier League Match Day 18 24_25 at Stamford Bridge
Thursday 26th December 2024, KO: 15:00
Referee:
Samuel Barrott (West Riding)
|
Fulham won a sensational SW6 derby, beating Chelsea 2-1 with late goals from Harry Wilson and Rodrigo Muniz.
Cole Palmer’s first-half strike had seen their neighbours take the lead, but Marco Silva’s men attacked relentlessly to seal three points at Stamford Bridge.
Both teams took a while to warm up on a nippy SW6 afternoon, with little to report from the opening ten. Bernd Leno claimed a hopeful Jadon Sancho clip into the box, while Alex Iwobi and Antonee Robinson sent in dangerous balls at the other end.
Raul Jimenez had the first shot of the game when Iwobi found him on the edge of the box, but the Mexico international’s instinctive touch and strike was dealt with by Robert Sanchez.
It was the home side who went ahead moments later when Palmer embarked on a mazy run through the midfield and placed the ball just out of Bernd Leno’s reach.
The forward couldn’t repeat the feat when he found time and space in the penalty area, Leno reading the effort well this time.
A low driven strike from Raúl that whistled past the far post proved Fulham’s best chance of the half, although Andreas Pereira fired over when he also had a sight at goal.
The next attack came from an unlikely source, as Calvin Bassey marauded through the Chelsea defence, eventually being thwarted by Sánchez.
Fulham prevented further damage seconds before the half-time whistle, with a goal-saving tackle from Bassey stopping Palmer from doubling Chelsea’s advantage.
Leno had to be alert after the break to tip Enzo Fernández’s thumping effort over with his fingertips, and when Levi Colwill bundled home following Chelsea’s next attack, the offside flag came to Fulham’s rescue.
Kicking towards their noisy away following, Iwobi continued the frantic start to the second-half with a strike that curled just wide with Sanchez helpless.
| Match Stats |
Chelsea |
Fulham |
| Goals |
(1) 1 |
2 (0) |
|
| Scorers |
Palmer 16 |
Wilson 82 |
| Scorers |
- |
Muniz 95 |
| , |
| Goal attempts |
12 |
14 |
| On target |
8 |
7 |
| Shooting Accuracy |
66% |
50% |
| Possession |
47% |
53% |
| Passes |
500 |
558 |
| Passes Success |
84% |
86% |
| Corners |
3 |
1 |
| Tackles |
13 |
9 |
| Tackles Success |
62% |
67% |
| Saves |
5 |
7 |
| Fouls |
13 |
13 |
| Offsides |
3 |
1 |
| Yellows |
1 |
3 |
| Reds |
0 |
0 |
| source: SkySports |
Marco Silva’s men had a great chance to level just after the hour mark when Adama Traore found Jedi unmarked in the box, but Sanchez was quick off his line to make the block.
With quarter of an hour remaining, substitute Muniz got on the end of a Jedi cross, but Sanchez was equal to the striker’s downward header.
A deserved equaliser finally came as Timothy Castagne headed a Jedi cross back across goal and Wilson nodded in to send the away end into raptures.
And there was still time for it to get even better, as Rodrigo Muniz was found in the middle and made no mistake to seal a win that will be as memorable as it was dramatic.
There’s only one team in Fulham.
Fulham boss Marco Silva:
Conceding the first goal is not easy. Throughout the first half we improved in that situation, started to control it a bit better. We knew Neto would follow Robinson all the way. Second half the reaction was top.
We changed some things in our system, without Sander Berge. We started not at the best level but I really believe we deserved the three points. With better decisions in the second half I think we did well.
From the beginning of December, our unbeaten run keeps going. Our speech before the game was about breaking this record [at Stamford Bridge]. We wanted to give this happiness to our fans on Boxing Day, a special day, and for the next few days them to have this feeling.
We were without four or five players. We tried to do something different. But we showed we have been growing. The group is responding really well, the players from the bench made another big impact.
Our fans deserve the feeling they have right now. This result is not going to change our ambitions.
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca:
"To concede the goal we conceded at the end, it is a bad feeling. I said many times when you can't win it's important you don't lose. The first15 minutes of the second half was the point I didn't like - we conceded so many transitions. We know they are a team building from transitions. First half we controlled that very good, second half we gave them too much energy.
Chelsea: Sanchez, Gusto, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella, Fernandez, Caicedo, P Neto, Palmer, Sancho, Jackson (Nkunku 73)
Unused substitutes: Disasi, Jorgensen, Bettinelli, Felix, Casadei, George, Acheampong, Guiu
Goals:
Palmer 16 (MAGICAL FROM PALMER!
This game had been lacking on quality in the final third, but Palmer has put an end to that emphatically.
He skips past Lukic on the edge of the box - where Fulham had been so compact - and places the ball into the bottom corner.
It looked almost effortless for Palmer! That is goal number 12 for Palmer in the Premier League this season. What a player he is.)
Yellow Card: Neto (59,f)
Fulham: Leno, Castagne, Diop, Andersen, Bassey, Traore (Wilson 67), Pereira (Cairney 73), Lukic, Iwobi (Sessegnon 92), Robinson, Jimenez (Muniz 74)
Unused substitutes: Vinicius, Cuenca, Benda, King, Godo
Goals:
Wilson 82 (FULHAM ARE LEVEL!
VAR is checking this as Fulham celebrate Wilson's equaliser.
Neto is down with an injury after a challenge in the build-up with Iwobi.
And there were some appeals for offside on Wilson, who nodded in Castagne's header back across goal.
VAR has a look and says no problem, Fulham are level.)
Muniz 90+5 (PANDEMONIUM ON THE FULHAM BENCH!
Almost half the Fulham staff are off their seats as they charge down the touchline to celebrate with the substitute.
He might just have secured Fulham's first away win against Chelsea since 1979!
Lukic's cross from the right finds Muniz in the box. He takes a touch and pokes a composed finish into the far corner.)
Yellow Card: Lukic (34,f), Andersen (38,f), Robinson (90+1, f)
Referee:
Samuel Barrott (West Riding)
Attendance: 0
Fulham are next in action on Sunday 29th December when the face Bournemouth at Craven Cottage.