Chelsea vs Fulham LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction after late Muniz goal shocks Blues
The Blues welcomed Fulham for a west London derby but suffered a surprise late turnaround
Chelsea hosted Fulham at Stamford Bridge in a London derby but suffered a surprise late turnaround, with Rodrigo Muniz netting a stoppage-time comeback winner.
Enzo Maresca’s side were hoping to keep the pressure on Liverpool at the top of the Premier League and started well, Cole Palmer opening the scoring after just 15 minutes with a supremely accurate, placed shot into the bottom corner from outside the box. They couldn’t build on that lead though, despite dominating large stretches, and Marco Silva’s side looked far better after the break.
Even so, Chelsea looked like taking the points all the way until the final ten minutes - when two substitutes had the desired impact, first Harry Wilson heading in from close range and then Muniz sealing the victory with a coolly taken effort to cap off a counter-attack, way past the 90-minute mark for a first Cottagers’ win at Stamford Bridge since 1979.
Follow all the latest action from Stamford Bridge below:
FT: Chelsea 1-2 Fulham
That’s it for us from this match - but Boxing Day football continues here on The Independent, with live coverage of Wolves v Man United and then Liverpool v Leicester coming up.
A massive win for Fulham, a setback for Chelsea - but there’s another game just around the corner and both teams should head into the new year with plenty of optimism for the rest of the season and 2025. Catch you again soon!
FT: Chelsea 1-2 Fulham
Marco Silva talking to Amazon Prime:
“It doesn’t make sense for us to change approach because we’re against a strong team. I know they scored an early goal, we should be better there, but the way we reacted, the way we played we were building. We should have created more chances (first half) but the reaction second half was top.
“This moment of the season you have to manage the loading of the players. It’s difficult to leave players out but the reason today is that Adama could be the one to exploit the space behind Cucurella (instead of Wilson). But we score off the bench it means everybody is contributing and working as the group.”
Fulham stun Chelsea with late goals to earn first Stamford Bridge win since 1979
Harry Wilson and Rodrigo Muniz came off the bench to stun Chelsea and end Fulham’s 45-year Stamford Bridge hoodoo.
The Blues were leading through Cole Palmer’s classy early goal and looking on course for an eighth win in nine matches to keep the heat on Premier League leaders Liverpool.
But Wilson equalised with eight minutes remaining and Muniz struck deep into stoppage time to secure a 2-1 victory and Fulham’s first win at their west London rivals since 1979.
Fulham stun Chelsea to earn first Stamford Bridge win since 1979
Chelsea 1-2 Fulham: Harry Wilson and Rodrigo Muniz struck in the eight minutes to cancel out Cole Palmer’s opener
FT: Chelsea 1-2 Fulham
What next for Chelsea? There was title talk not long ago but it’s five points dropped now in two games, against Everton and Fulham - they’d expect to win both if we’re honest, or at least one of the two.
Maresca has been constant in saying they’re not ready to challenge, so perhaps these results vindicate that?
Champions League football must be the aim for next term all the same and the Blues have a six-point buffer down to Newcastle right now.
FT: Chelsea 1-2 Fulham
“Adama was a threat, Alex (Iwobi) has been one of our best players. Gaffer was saying I had to be patient and I was biding my time, but the last five I’ve had three starts so I feel like I’m getting back in - but whether it’s starting or as sub I want to help the team,” he continues, speaking to Amazon Prime.
Only one point separates Newcastle (fifth) to Villa (ninth) - it’s incredibly tight in that part of the table and Fulham are right in the mix.
FT: Chelsea 1-2 Fulham
It’s six unbeaten in the league now for Fulham, four of those draws, but only perhaps one of them a disappointment - against Southampton - and this result doubtless more than makes up for it.
“We didn’t come here and park the bus, we tried to play and to get the late goals was amazing. I’m trying to shake the tag because I don’t want to be a super sub!” says Harry Wilson, who netted the equaliser.
FT: Chelsea 1-2 Fulham
A quite astonishing turnaround - the Blues were ahead and going just a point behind Liverpool until the final ten minutes, yet instead end up on the wrong side of a historical scoreline between these local rivals.
That was a massive 45-year wait for Fulham fans to see a victory here.
The result sees the Cottagers into eighth place, but the bigger context is they are level on points with Aston Villa and Manchester City. Massively impressive.
Chelsea stay second, four behind Liverpool who now have two games in hand.
90’ +6 - Chelsea 1-2 Fulham
Almost 2-2! Nkunku produces an acrobatic half-volley in mid-air from a delivery from wide and Leno launches himself to the right, tipping the ball around the post!
Final chance for Chelsea surely...the corner is cleared, Palmer wins a free-kick and will deliver it himself. Left-footed, into the box...headed away and Palmer slices it wide.
Full time!
What an improbable comeback victory, Wilson and Muniz score late goals to secure a first win at Stamford Bridge since 1979!
GOAL! 90’ +4 - Chelsea 1-2 Fulham
Fulham have done it!! A simple move down the right flank, an overload and a cross, more players committed forward than defenders running back and with Colwill 20 yards deeper than his teammates, Rodrigo Muniz sees the ball arrive to his feet, one touch controls it and the second is drilled into the bottom corner!
Chelsea 1, Fulham 2...two minutes to go.
90’ +3 - Chelsea 1-1 Fulham
Iwobi removed now, Sessegnon on. Applause and ovation for the man going off. Fulham’s best by a distance today.
Just a couple of minutes left for Chelsea to come up with something late on to take the three points again.
Robinson’s cross to Wilson momentarily looks like Fulham might instead be in with a late chance, but Colwill and Gusto have defended well.
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