Chelsea stuns Fulham in stoppage time

Chelsea produced late drama at Craven Cottage on Sunday afternoon, turning a frustrating afternoon into a vital 2-1 win over Fulham. A Premier League debut goal from 19-year-old Tyrique George and a stoppage-time stunner from Pedro Neto kept Chelsea’s Champions League dream alive after trailing for much of the match.

Pressure mounts, and Fulham strikes first

With Champions League qualification on the line, Chelsea entered the West London derby under pressure. Having dropped to seventh place following Aston Villa’s win on Saturday, the Blues needed a response. However, they looked nervy and uninspired in the opening half against a Fulham side featuring Dutch international Kenny Tete and former Eredivisie players Joachim Andersen and Calvin Bassey. Despite few chances on either side, it was Fulham who struck first. Ryan Sessegnon pressed high and won the ball on Chelsea’s half, sparking a swift counterattack. He found Alex Iwobi, who cut inside and fired a low shot into the far corner. Goalkeeper Robert Sánchez could only watch as the ball flew in: 1-0.

George grabs his moment

Chelsea struggled to get going, and star man Cole Palmer extended his goal drought, having not scored since January 14. Enzo Maresca looked to shake things up after halftime, bringing on Jadon Sancho in place of Noni Madueke. With fifteen minutes to go, the Italian manager turned to youngster Tyrique George, hoping to find a breakthrough. The 19-year-old didn’t disappoint. Having already opened his account earlier this month in the Conference League, George scored his first Premier League goal on Sunday, finding the net after a scramble in the box. The equalizer came as a huge relief to the travelling Chelsea fans and gave the Blues hope heading into the closing minutes.

Neto’s last-minute magic

Just as the match seemed destined for a draw, Pedro Neto delivered a moment of brilliance. In the third minute of added time, the Portuguese winger took a sharp first touch with his right and, in one fluid motion, unleashed a stunning left-footed strike into the top corner. The away section erupted as Chelsea completed a dramatic comeback: 1-2. The win lifts Chelsea back into the top six and keeps their Champions League hopes very much alive with just a handful of matches to go. It was far from a perfect performance, but the late surge showed resilience and character at a time when the pressure was highest. For Fulham, the loss is a tough pill to swallow after leading for most of the match. Marco Silva’s side remains mid-table, while Chelsea will look to build on this result with momentum on their side.