Fulham 1-2 Chelsea, Premier League: Post-match reaction, ratings

Not unexpectedly, Fulham started brightly, on and off the ball, and had the ball in the back of the net inside of three minutes. And while that play was obviously offside at least a couple times during the move, the warning shot was fired ... and not heeded.

Fulham kept up the energetic pressing, causing Chelsea to go long several times. Not that we posed much actual threat when we did beat the press.

Against that run of play, Fulham took the lead on 20 minutes, forcing a turnover not for the first time in midfield and attacking the space left in behind.

Armed with the lead, they were able to keep executing their solid gameplan, with Chelsea showing little promise of being able to make a breakthrough against it.

A couple half-time changes inspired a decent response, but we could not finish our chances even when finding the telling final pass, with Pedro Neto somehow hitting the legs of the goalkeeper when it looked easier to score in the 55th minute.

Chelsea kept up the pressure but failed to create any real danger despite several halfway promising moves. Fulham posed a bit of threat on the counter, but the outcome seemed more dependent on whether we could make any of our attacks actually count.

Just when it looked like we wouldn’t and couldn’t, Tyrique George popped up with a snapshot from distance, which found the bottom corner!

And to complete the mirroring from the reverse leg, we would then go on to win it in stoppage time, on an absolutely thunderous strike from Pedro Neto!

Football!

Carefree.

In theory, our strongest lineup, with Maresca’s choices matching the people’s choice

Gusto injury could be a concern

First Premier League goal for Tyrique George!

Three points to keep pace with the rest of the top-five fighters. Up to fifth, ahead of Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest only on goal difference; Forest still to play this weekend (tomorrow at Spurs)

First win away in the league in nine tries, over four months

Next up: Everton at home next Saturday

KTBFFH

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