Chelsea began the Xabi Alonso era with a thrilling 3-2 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage. Goals from João Pedro, Morgan Rogers, and Cole Palmer highlighted the Blues’ attacking flair, though defensive errors from Robert Sánchez kept Fulham in the contest.
Chelsea struck inside the opening minute as Palmer set up Pedro for a composed finish. Rogers doubled the lead with a debut goal after Lacroix’s marauding run and cross. Palmer capped off a magnificent individual display with Chelsea’s third, a delightful strike that sealed the victory.
Fulham stayed alive thanks to Sánchez’s mistakes. Josh King capitalised on a poor save to score, while Gonzalo Garcia added another after Sánchez’s misjudgment. Antonee Robinson missed a golden chance to equalise late on, failing to chip the keeper.
Chelsea showed attacking promise but defensive frailties remain evident, giving Alonso plenty to ponder despite the winning start.
softfootball player ratings:
Player Ratings
Chelsea
| Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| Robert Sánchez | 5.7 |
| Josh Acheampong | 7.3 |
| Maxence Lacroix | 8.0 (Assist) |
| Levi Colwill | 6.7 |
| Malo Gusto | 6.7 |
| Reece James | 7.0 |
| Romeo Lavia | 7.3 |
| Jorrel Hato | 7.1 |
| Cole Palmer | 9.1 (Goal + Assist, MOTM) |
| Morgan Rogers | 8.7 (Debut Goal) |
| João Pedro | 8.5 (Opener) |
Fulham
| Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| Bernd Leno | 6.0 |
| Timothy Castagne | 7.0 |
| Calvin Bassey | 6.0 |
| Jorge Cuenca | 5.0 |
| Antonee Robinson | 6.0 |
| Alex Iwobi | 6.0 |
| Sander Berge | 5.0 |
| Oscar Bobb | 6.0 |
| Josh King | 8.0 (Goal) |
| Cesar Palacios | 7.0 |
| Gonzalo Garcia | 6.0 (Goal) |
Match Statistics
| Statistic | Chelsea | Fulham |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 3 | 2 |
| Possession | 46% | 54% |
| Total Shots | 15 | 12 |
| Shots on Target | 7 | 5 |
| Expected Goals (xG) | 2.11 | 1.64 |
| Fouls | 11 | 13 |
| Yellow Cards | 2 | 3 |
| Red Cards | 0 | 0 |
| Offsides | 2 | 1 |
| Corners | 5 | 4 |
