Fulham 1-2 Chelsea: Late Neto winner keeps Champions League hopes alive

Pedro Neto’s last-gasp winner helped Chelsea keep their hopes of Champions League qualification alive as they came from behind to beat Fulham 2-1 at Craven Cottage.

Fulham had taken the lead in the 20th minute through Alex Iwobi, with the midfielder’s low drive picking out the bottom corner after Reece James had his pocket picked.

But two goals in 10 second-half minutes from substitute Tyrique George and Neto sealed a huge win for the Blues, who ended their eight-game winless run on the road.

Teenager George needed just five minutes after being introduced into the action to make an impact, rifling a first-time finish beyond the grasp of Bernd Leno.

The turnaround was completed in the third minute of second-half stoppage time when Neto swivelled superbly on Enzo Fernandez’s cutback, planting the ball into the roof of the net.

Chelsea’s victory moves them up into fifth place, ahead of Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa, while Marco Silva’s side remain ninth in the standings.

GET IN THERE!!! #CFC | #FULCHE pic.twitter.com/JHbXVqT4OT

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) April 20, 2025

Data Debrief: Neto saves Blues blushes

Having failed to win a Premier League away game since a 4-3 win over Tottenham Hotspur back in December, Chelsea left it late with a dramatic late turnaround.

Indeed, Neto’s injury-time stunner, timed at 93:21, is Chelsea’s latest winning goal on record in a Premier League London derby (since 2006-07).

But the Blues’ comeback was kick-started by George. Aged 19 years and 75 days old, he became Chelsea’s fifth-youngest goalscorer in the Premier League and youngest since Callum Hudson-Odoi netted against Burnley in January 2020 (19y 65d).

As for Fulham, it’s the same old story as they turned a superb 80 minutes into disappointment. They have now dropped 25 points from winning positions this season, with only Ipswich Town (27) dropping more.