EPL: Chelsea edge Fulham 2-0

Chelsea claimed a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Fulham at Stamford Bridge, thanks to late heroics from Joao Pedro and Enzo Fernandez.

The Blues overcame early scares and a controversial VAR decision to secure their first home win of the season.

The match got off to a frantic start, and Fulham looked dangerous in the opening exchanges.

The visitors thought they had opened the scoring in the 20th minute when Joshua King finished a sharp counterattack, only for the goal to be ruled out after VAR spotted a foul in the buildup.

Chelsea gradually grew into the game, and it was in the dying moments of the first half that they found the breakthrough.

A series of set-pieces culminated in Fernandez whipping in a corner that Joao Pedro met with a precise header, sending the Blues fans into a frenzy.

The goal was Pedro’s fifth in six games and put Chelsea ahead just before the break.

The second half began with Chelsea asserting more control.

Their dominance paid off when Chalobah’s cross struck Ryan Sessegnon’s arm inside the box.

After a VAR review, referee Robert Jones awarded a penalty, which Fernandez calmly converted, doubling the lead and effectively sealing the result.

Chelsea’s performance wasn’t without drama off the ball. Early in the first half, Liam Delap was forced off with a hamstring injury, making way for Tyrique George.

Despite the reshuffle, the Blues maintained composure and steadily increased the pressure on Fulham’s goal.

Fulham continued to threaten, with Rodrigo Muniz and Alex Iwobi testing Sanchez, but Chelsea’s defence held firm, aided by key interventions from Joao Pedro.

The home side also made strategic substitutions, introducing Jamie Gittens and Andrey Santos in the second half to maintain energy and control.

As the final whistle blew, Chelsea secured all three points, moving to seven points from their opening three games and giving fans plenty of reason to be optimistic. The victory also marked the first time the Blues had triumphed in front of their home crowd this season.

Next up, Chelsea players will head off for international duty, while the remaining squad prepares for their upcoming clash with Brentford.

Source: Punch