Thanks to a goal-line clearance by Josko Gvardiol in additional time, Manchester City were able to overcome a stunning Fulham fightback and emerge victorious in a nine-goal hair-raiser at Craven Cottage on Tuesday 2 December, 2025.
Trailing by five (5) goals to one (1), the home side fought back beautifully with three unreplied goals and closely completed what would have been described as difficult-to-believe comeback in the 97th minute only for Croatian defender, Gvardiol, to clear Josh King’s effort off the line.
Pep Guardiola’s Cityzens took the lead when Erling Haaland converted Jeremy Doku’s assist in the 17th minute, and Tijjani Rejinders and Phil Gorden added the second and third in the 37th and 44th minutes respectively to take the game to 3-0.
However, Emile Smith-Rowe handed the cottagers some hope in the 2nd minute of first half additional time; but, just three (3) minutes into the second half Foden restored the visitors’ three-goal lead.
In the 54th minute, Jeremy Doku’s deflected strike went in off Sander Berge.
Fulham did not give up and continued to fight, and in the 57th minute, Nigerian midfielder, Alex Iwobi netted the hosts’ second before former AC Milan winger, Samuel Chukwueze, scored a brace in the 72nd and 78th minutes.
While Fulham are 15th with seventeen (17) points, Manchester City are second with twenty-eight (28) points, two (2) points trailing toppers, Arsenal, who will slug it out with Brentford on Wednesday night.
Arsenal will face Brentford in the Premier League 2025/26 match at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday 3 December, 2025 at 20:30 (WAT).
Result
Premier League 2025/26 – Tuesday 2 December, 2025 |
| AFC Bournemouth 0-1 Everton |
| Fulham 4-5 Manchester City |
| Newcastle United 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur |
In his post-defeat comments, Fulham head coach, Marco Silva, told Match Of The Day: “Of course we take many positives from the game but the feeling is not the best, as you would expect.
“Before the game we had the ambition and the conditions, I believe, to get a different result. The way we started, again, made this more difficult for us. We were too soft, we didn’t start on the front foot, like we should start these games.
“It’s a game where you score four goals and lose at home, the feeling is not good.
“We didn’t take any points but we took many many things from this game which will help us to win games in the future.”
Fulham Nigerian winger, Chukwueze,expressed disappointment following the outcome, but, thanked fans fr their “amazing” love and support.
The Nigeria international said: “I like the spirit of the team. The fans were amazing – supportive from 5-1 to 5-4.”
Photo: Samuel Chukwueze celebrates goal for Fulham | X/Fulham Football Club
