Stoppage-Time Heroics by Neto Keep Blues’ Champions League Hopes Alive
Pedro Neto scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner for Chelsea against Fulham, keeping the Blues in the race for a Champions League spot. Fulham initially took the lead with Alex Iwobi’s excellent strike in the 20th minute. However, Chelsea turned the game around in the second half with two quick goals from substitute Tyrique George and Neto.
Nineteen-year-old George came off the bench and made an immediate impact, netting his first Premier League goal just five minutes after his introduction. He struck a fierce shot into the bottom corner in the 83rd minute, leveling the match. The win was completed in the third minute of added time when Neto received a cut-back from Enzo Fernandez, took a touch, and fired the ball into the roof of the net.
This victory propelled Chelsea into fifth place, putting them ahead of Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa. Fulham, on the other hand, remains in ninth place in the league. The match started brightly for Fulham, who thought they had taken an early lead through Andreas Pereira, but the goal was disallowed for offside after a VAR check confirmed Ryan Sessegnon’s infraction.
Sessegnon was also involved in Iwobi’s opening goal, as he capitalized on a mistake by Reece James. Iwobi, who has been having an outstanding season, found the net for his ninth league goal, showcasing his importance in Fulham’s attack during the first half.
Neto’s late goal was a pivotal moment, especially for someone who has faced criticism for his inconsistency since transferring from Wolverhampton Wanderers. This win not only brought an end to Chelsea’s frustrating eight-game winless streak on the road but also left Fulham regretting a missed chance to boost their own hopes of qualifying for European football.
Last minute winner! 👏#CFC | #FULCHE pic.twitter.com/TDTyPWkmLY
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) April 20, 2025
In Pereira’s milestone 100th Premier League match, Fulham fans were left heartbroken by the outcome. Despite cheering for a potential return to European competition, which last occurred during Roy Hodgson’s tenure in 2010, the painful last-minute loss against Chelsea would have felt particularly gut-wrenching.
In the closing moments of the match, George and Neto stepped up, and now Chelsea will aim to carry that momentum into their game against Everton next Saturday. On a different note, the managers, Marco Silva and Enzo Maresca, had very different takes on the match. Silva felt the result was a bit unfair, while Maresca was pleased with his team’s performance and was glad to secure the crucial win.
