Chelsea stunned Fulham with an extraordinary late-turnaround victory at Craven Cottage, thanks to an amazing finish from Pedro Neto. With hopes of qualifying for the Champions League in shambles, the Blues provided a welcome reaction. Having fallen behind early, they fought their way back into the game, only finding their rhythm in added time. The turnaround could prove a turning point in their troubled season, bringing hope and relief to fans and manager Enzo Maresca.
Chelsea Start Slow But Finish in Style
Fulham started as the stronger team, pushing with purpose and intent. Chelsea appeared shaky and slow from the very beginning. Raúl Jiménez and Ryan Sessegnon were bright, applying pressure to Chelsea’s defence. The visitors were unable to get any rhythm going early on.
Reece James was caught in possession after venturing out from defence. Sessegnon took advantage, playing in Alex Iwobi. Iwobi remained calm and beat Robert Sánchez with a low shot to put Fulham in a richly deserved lead after 20 minutes. Chelsea took time to reply, with limited creativity in the final third. Fulham would have doubled the lead from a corner. Sander Berge wasted a free header, sparing Chelsea further grief before the break.
Maresca made drastic half-time changes. Jadon Sancho and Malo Gusto were brought on to inject some energy. Sancho replaced struggling Noni Madueke and injected directness to Chelsea’s attack. Gusto provided more drive than James. Maresca subsequently took off striker Nicolas Jackson and replaced him with 19-year-old Tyrique George at a risk of a less orthodox setup. In spite of skepticism, George injected energy and bravery. His pace and movement caused issues for Fulham late on. Cole Palmer, despite being goalless in 16 matches, started making a difference to the game. Caicedo also increased his profile as the second half went on.
George equalized in the 83rd minute. Fulham couldn’t clear a long diagonal ball. Neto headed it down cleverly. George picked up on it and shot from 20 yards, beating Bernd Leno with a low, accurate shot. The equaliser lifted Chelsea. They played with purpose, driving Fulham further back into their own half. With the momentum in their favour, Chelsea continued to drive for a winner. Then came the magic moment. In stoppage time, Caicedo flicked a clever pass forward. Palmer and Enzo Fernández combined quickly down the right. Fernández played out to Neto, who spun and smashed a breathtaking finish into the net to seal the victory.
Maresca and Stamford Bridge Breathe Again
Maresca was booked during the celebrations, unable to contain his emotions on the touchline. “This was a must-win game,” said the head coach post-match. “The players deserved to celebrate with the fans.” He explained that Christopher Nkunku was left out for technical reasons, not due to injury. Chelsea’s away form had been disappointing, with no league win on the road since December. The dramatic victory over Fulham might change the mood and give belief to the team. It also relieved pressure on Maresca, whose popularity with fans has been declining.
Marco Silva’s side lost their nerve in the second half. They dropped deeper and lost control of the game. The double over Chelsea was within reach, but they could not hold on. Silva conceded his side dropped too deep. “We couldn’t maintain our shape,” said Silva. “That provided them with space and momentum.” Fulham had appeared to be in charge for most of the first half. But after Chelsea equalised, they posed no threat. The loss hurts Fulham’s hopes of making the Europa League, leaving them with more to do in the league run-in.
Chelsea’s comeback victory over Fulham, sealed by a late Pedro Neto goal, may be a turning point. Maresca’s daring substitutions and tactical tweaks finally paid off in a nervy west London derby. With Tyrique George rising to the occasion and Neto producing a moment of magic, Chelsea might have discovered new heroes. Now, their Champions League dream remains alive—just about. The next few matches will tell if this was a one-off or a rebirth.
As featured on Chelseanews.com
