LONDON:
Fulham scored twice within the ultimate 10 minutes to finish Chelsea’s 12-game unbeaten run in all competitions with a shocking 2-1 Premier League win at Stamford Bridge.
Substitutes Harry Wilson and Rodrigo Muniz shocked the Blues to safe Fulham’s first away win at their west London rivals since 1979.
Defeat leaves second-placed Chelsea nonetheless 4 factors adrift of leaders Liverpool, who’ve two video games in hand over their nearest challengers, beginning with the go to of Leicester in a while Thursday.
Victory lifts Fulham as much as eighth, degree on factors with champions Manchester Metropolis, and inside only one level of fifth-placed Newcastle to additional their European ambitions for subsequent season.
“It’s a privilege to present our followers this happiness,” stated Fulham boss Marco Silva.
“Second half the response was high. It isn’t a coincidence that we’re the crew within the Premier League that has acquired essentially the most targets from gamers off the bench.”
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has insisted in latest weeks that his younger aspect are usually not but minimize out for a title problem regardless of their fantastic type.
And the house aspect proved their supervisor’s level after failing to construct on a dream begin given to them by the category of Cole Palmer.
There didn’t look to be a lot on when Levi Colwill performed the ball into Palmer’s ft about 40 yards out.
However the England star burst into life, turning away from Andreas Pereira and gliding previous Sasa Lukic in direction of the sting of the field.
Palmer then utilized the end, nonchalantly passing the ball by way of the legs of defender Issa Diop and into the nook of Bernd Leno’s aim.
It was Palmer’s twenty sixth league strike of 2024, beating the Chelsea report for Premier League targets scored in a calendar yr set by Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in 2001.
“We had been profitable for many of the recreation, however to lose on the finish is tough,” stated Palmer.
“Second half we misplaced a little bit of management. They are a good transition crew and wish to run direct, we acquired caught up of their recreation and paid the worth.”
Palmer virtually bagged a second moments after opening the scoring, with a nutmeg on the sting of the field adopted by a low drive which was properly stored out by Leno.
Fulham’s German goalkeeper additionally made essential saves to stop Marc Cucurella and Enzo Fernandez including to Chelsea’s lead both aspect of half-time.
Silva’s males have now taken factors from Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea this month and the Portuguese’s modifications turned the tide within the guests’ favour.
Eight minutes from time one other substitute Tom Cairney’s cross was headed throughout aim by Timothy Castagne and Wilson glanced in on the far submit. Each side had probabilities to win it in a wild finale, but it surely was Fulham who took theirs within the ninety fifth minute to assert a well-known victory.
Lukic surged ahead from midfield and squared for Muniz to coolly slot into the underside nook in entrance of the delighted travelling assist.