Chelsea claimed a 2-0 victory over Fulham at Stamford Bridge in the West London derby, with goals from João Pedro and Enzo Fernández on a day dominated by VAR controversy and set-piece prowess.
Key Moments
- 21’ — Fulham goal ruled out: Joshua King thought he’d opened the scoring for Fulham after breaking forward and finishing clinically, only for VAR to disallow the goal for a foul by Rodrigo Muniz on Trevoh Chalobah in the build-up.
- 45+8’ — João Pedro header: Deep into first-half stoppage time, João Pedro met Enzo Fernández’s corner with a precise header to give Chelsea the lead, marking his fifth goal in as many games for the Blues.
- 56’ — Fernández penalty: Early in the second half, a Chelsea cross struck the outstretched arm of Fulham’s Ryan Sessegnon inside the box. After another lengthy VAR review, Enzo Fernández converted the resulting penalty, making it 2-0 to the hosts.
Additional Notes
- Chelsea were forced into an early substitution as Liam Delap left with a hamstring injury inside the opening 10 minutes.
- Fulham pressed late, forcing João Pedro to clear a Joachim Andersen header off the line, but Chelsea held firm.
- With this win, Chelsea remain unbeaten at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League during 2025, while Fulham’s search for a first win this campaign continues.
Quick Stats
| Chelsea | Fulham | |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 2 | 0 |
| Scorers | João Pedro (45+8′), Fernández (56′ pen) | — |
| VAR Moments | 2 | 2 (goal ruled out, penalty conceded) |
| Key Injuries | Delap (hamstring) | — |
Chelsea’s strong set-piece record and resilience under pressure shine through again, as VAR proved pivotal in both disallowing one goal and awarding another.