Chelsea faced Fulham in an exciting London derby at Stamford Bridge but fell to a surprising late defeat, with Rodrigo Muniz scoring a stoppage-time goal to clinch victory for the visitors. Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea aimed to keep the pressure on league leaders Liverpool and started strong, with Cole Palmer netting the opener just 15 minutes into the match. His precise strike from outside the box gave Chelsea an early advantage.
Despite dominating much of the match and coming close to doubling their lead, Chelsea struggled to maintain their performance, especially in the second half when Fulham improved significantly. The deadlock was finally broken when Harry Wilson equalized in the 81st minute with a close-range header. Just when it seemed Chelsea would hold on for a point, Muniz delivered a stunning late blow, finishing a counter-attack expertly to secure a historic victory for Fulham—their first win at Stamford Bridge since 1979.
The match highlighted the tight competition in the league, with both teams demonstrating resilience and the ability to respond under pressure. Fulham’s win lifts them to eighth place, right in contention for European spots, while Chelsea remains in second, trailing Liverpool by four points with the leaders holding two games in hand.
This result exemplifies the unpredictable nature of the Premier League and serves as a reminder that anything can happen in football. As both teams look ahead, Fulham will continue to seek out opportunities to build on this momentum, while Chelsea will need to regroup quickly to maintain their title chase.
Overall, this thrilling encounter leaves fans hopeful for what’s to come in the remainder of the season, emphasizing the competitive spirit of the Premier League and the excitement that local derbies bring to the sport.