Last updated on April 20, 2025
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Chelsea celebrate after Pedro Neto scored the winning goal against Fulham.
Image credit: Chelsea FC
Chelsea reignited their push for Champions League football with a dramatic late turnaround to defeat Fulham 2-1 at Craven Cottage.
The win reverses the heartbreak of December’s derby and solidifies their place in the Premier League’s top five.
A Game of Two Halves
Fulham struck early through Alex Iwobi, whose precise 20th-minute finish from Ryan Sessegnon’s pass gave the hosts a deserved halftime lead.
The Cottagers looked on course to repeat their December heroics, when they left Stamford Bridge with a last-minute win.
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However, Chelsea flipped the script in emphatic fashion.
Teenage forward Tyrique George, an emerging talent from the club’s academy, came off the bench to level the score in the 83rd minute with a clean first-time strike from the edge of the box—his first Premier League goal.
Just when it seemed both teams would share the spoils, Pedro Neto produced a moment of brilliance.
In the third minute of stoppage time, he turned swiftly in the box and unleashed a thunderous half-volley past Bernd Leno, triggering ecstatic scenes among the Chelsea faithful.
Revenge Served Blue
The result mirrored Fulham’s own late win against Chelsea just four months ago, but this time, the Blues were the ones celebrating.
Enzo Maresca’s side, criticized for poor away form, finally broke their travel hoodoo with a much-needed victory that could prove pivotal in the race for Europe.
Having struggled on the road with eight winless away games, Chelsea’s revival came at a perfect time.
They now sit fifth on goal difference, edging past both Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa.
Fulham’s Missed Opportunity
For Fulham, the defeat was a bitter blow.
A win would have taken them to eighth—potentially a European qualification spot.
But instead, they remain in ninth, and their hopes of returning to continental competition took a major hit.
Despite a resilient defensive effort, Fulham failed to replicate the offensive fluidity that saw them shock Liverpool earlier this month.
Their reliance on maintaining a narrow lead backfired as fatigue set in late.
While Alex Iwobi impressed again—scoring for the second consecutive home game—the team faltered when it mattered most.
Returning winger Harry Wilson provided a late spark, but it was too little, too late.
Tyrique George: Star in the Making
At just 19 years old, Tyrique George is beginning to make his mark.
His goal was his second in three matches, having also scored in Chelsea’s recent Europa Conference League fixture.
The youngster was a livewire after his introduction and rightly earned the “Player of the Match” accolade with an average rating of 7.87.
Neto’s contribution, meanwhile, was a reminder of his elite talent—turning a tense derby into a night to remember.
What’s Next?
Fulham now face a daunting trio of matches against Aston Villa, Brentford, and Manchester City, with their European hopes hanging in the balance.
Chelsea, meanwhile, look poised for a strong finish and could yet surprise the league by securing a top-four spot—especially if their new stars continue to shine.
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