Sophia
Chelsea secured a hard-fought 2-0 victory over West London rivals Fulham in a Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. The match was marred by several controversial VAR decisions that ultimately favored the Blues, leaving Fulham manager Marco Silva and his squad feeling aggrieved.
Goals from Enzo Fernández and João Pedro sealed the three points for Enzo Maresca’s side, propelling them further up the Premier League table. However, the victory was anything but straightforward, with key moments turning on the video assistant referee’s interventions.
Early Exchanges and VAR Controversy
The game began with a subdued tempo, a stark contrast to Chelsea’s recent emphatic win against West Ham United. Fulham, fresh off a resilient draw against Manchester United, started brightly, pressing the hosts and creating early turnovers. The opening 20 minutes saw little action for either goalkeeper, though Chelsea suffered an early blow with Liam Delap limping off due to a hamstring injury.
The first major flashpoint arrived when Fulham teenager Josh King seemingly broke the deadlock, coolly slotting past Robert Sánchez. However, VAR intervened, disallowing the goal for a foul by Rodrigo Muniz on Trevoh Chalobah in the build-up. The decision, which appeared marginal, ignited fury on the Fulham bench.
Just before halftime, Fulham’s frustration compounded when Chelsea opened the scoring against the run of play. Despite the Cottagers dominating the first 45 minutes, João Pedro rose to head home Enzo Fernández’s precise corner, marking Chelsea’s fourth set-piece goal of the season and giving them an undeserved lead at the break.
Second Half Drama and Decisive Penalties
The second half began with yet another VAR-induced controversy. Chelsea was awarded a penalty for a handball by Ryan Sessegnon, despite replays suggesting João Pedro himself may have handled the ball moments before. Enzo Fernández stepped up and calmly converted the spot-kick, doubling Chelsea’s lead and further deflating the spirited visitors.
The lengthy delay and the second goal visibly impacted Fulham’s momentum. Chelsea, now in control, began to enjoy sustained periods of possession, with Estêvão forcing a save from Bernd Leno as they sought a third goal. While the Blues comfortably managed the game’s conclusion, Pedro was called upon defensively to clear an effort off the line in stoppage time, denying Fulham a late lifeline. Ultimately, Chelsea eased to three crucial points, albeit in a match that will be remembered for its officiating decisions.
Player Ratings: Chelsea vs. Fulham (4-2-3-1)
João Pedro’s excellent start to his Chelsea career continued on Saturday.
Ratings provided by FotMob
| Player | Rating (Out of 10) |
|---|---|
| GK: Robert Sánchez | 7.6 |
| RB: Malo Gusto | 7.8 |
| CB: Trevoh Chalobah | 7.9 |
| CB: Tosin Adarabioyo | 7.7 |
| LB: Marc Cucurella | 7.8 |
| CM: Moisés Caicedo | 8.1 |
| CM: Enzo Fernández (c) | 8.5 |
| RW: Estêvão | 6.7 |
| AM: João Pedro | 8.2 |
| LW: Pedro Neto | 7.4 |
| ST: Liam Delap | 5.7 |
Substitutes:
- Tyrique George (15’ for Delap): 6.0
- Jamie Gittens (68’ for Estêvão): 6.2
- Andrey Santos (81’ for George): N/A
- Reece James (81’ for Neto): N/A
Subs not used: Filip Jørgensen (GK), Jorrel Hato, Josh Acheampong, Wesley Fofana, Dário Essugo.
Player of the Match: Enzo Fernández
Fulham (3-5-2)
- Bernd Leno; Kenny Tete, Joachim Andersen, Calvin Bassey; Timothy Castagne, Sander Berge, Saša Lukić; Alex Iwobi, Ryan Sessegnon; Joshua King, Rodrigo Muniz.
Substitutes:
- Benjamin Lacomte, Harrison Reed, Raúl Jiménez, Harry Wilson, Tom Cairney, Adama Traoré, Jorge Cuenca, Emile Smith Rowe, Antonee Robinson.
Looking Ahead
While Chelsea secured the win, the performance highlighted areas for improvement, particularly in converting possession into clear-cut chances. Fulham, despite the controversial decisions, showed resilience and attacking intent that bodes well for their season. The derby will undoubtedly fuel further debate about VAR’s role in the Premier League, but for Chelsea, it’s three points in the bag as they continue their push for a strong start to the campaign.
