The Fulham vs Man City match produced one of the most dramatic Premier League encounters of the season. Manchester City won 5-4 at Craven Cottage, but they nearly threw away a commanding 5-1 lead. Moreover, manager Pep Guardiola admitted he couldn’t explain what happened to his team. Nevertheless, City secured three vital points to stay in the title race.
Erling Haaland made history by reaching 100 Premier League goals in record time. However, his milestone got overshadowed by the chaos that followed. Furthermore, City looked comfortable at 5-1 up shortly after halftime. Subsequently, everything changed when Fulham launched an incredible comeback.
Match Summary
| Team | Goals | Key Scorers |
|---|---|---|
| Manchester City | 5 | Haaland (2), Foden (2), Doku (own goal) |
| Fulham | 4 | Smith Rowe, Iwobi, Chukwueze (2) |
| Result | City Win | 5-4 |
Phil Foden scored four goals in his last two matches, demonstrating excellent form. Additionally, Tijjani Reijnders netted City’s second goal. Then, Foden added a fabulous third strike before halftime. Meanwhile, Emile Smith Rowe pulled one back for Fulham before the break.
Jeremy Doku’s effort looped in off Sander Berge’s knee early in the second half. Therefore, City appeared to have secured victory at 5-1. However, Alex Iwobi started Fulham’s incredible comeback with a curling 20-yard strike.
Haaland’s Historic Achievement
Record-Breaking Stats:
- Reached 100 Premier League goals in just 111 matches
- Beat Alan Shearer’s previous record by 13 matches
- Scored 36 goals in debut season (2022-23) – competition record
- Joined City from Borussia Dortmund for £51 million in 2022
- Previously scored 62 goals in 67 Bundesliga appearances
Substitute Samuel Chukwueze changed the game completely. Specifically, he scored his first two Fulham goals within six minutes. Consequently, City found themselves clinging desperately to their lead. Moreover, twelve minutes plus eight stoppage minutes remained when Chukwueze’s second flew past goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Fulham threw everything forward searching for an equalizer. In fact, substitute Josh King thought he had scored a dramatic fifth goal. However, Josko Gvardiol cleared his shot off the line at the crucial moment.
“Did you enjoy that, guys?” Guardiola smiled afterwards. “Me? Impossible. It’s the Premier League, you can’t control it. I know you’re going to ask what happened, and I don’t have an answer.”
Additionally, Guardiola acknowledged the challenge ahead. “Arsenal are so strong and so solid. I know what we have to do. It will be difficult, but the Premier League is so long.”
Fulham manager Marco Silva praised his team’s response. “What they showed was impressive,” Silva stated. “The reaction from the boys was unbelievable, and we probably deserved a fifth goal to equalise the game.”
City now sits two points behind leaders Arsenal. However, their defensive vulnerabilities raise serious questions about sustaining a title challenge. Despite this, Guardiola emphasized survival became the only priority after Fulham’s comeback started.
The Fulham vs Man City thriller demonstrated why the Premier League remains the most unpredictable competition, with City grateful for their dramatic escape despite Haaland’s historic milestone achievement.
