Chelsea fell to a heartbreaking 2–1 defeat against Fulham at Stamford Bridge as two late goals turned a match they had largely controlled into a costly Boxing Day setback, Softfootball reports.
The hosts started brightly, and their early pressure was rewarded in the 16th minute when Cole Palmer finished clinically from the edge of the area, guiding Chelsea into a deserved 1–0 lead. With strong spells of possession and effective combination play in the final third, Chelsea appeared in control for much of the encounter, keeping Fulham pinned back and forcing Bernd Leno into several sharp saves.
Despite Chelsea producing eight shots on target and maintaining 90% pass accuracy, their failure to convert a second goal left the door open — and Fulham took full advantage in the closing stages.
The turning point came in the 82nd minute when substitute Harry Wilson curled a precise low effort beyond Robert Sánchez, leveling the score and shifting momentum sharply in Fulham’s favor. Chelsea, visibly shaken, struggled to regain their earlier fluency.
Deep into stoppage time, Fulham completed the comeback in dramatic fashion. Rodrigo Muniz rose above the Chelsea defense to head home a last-gasp winner at 90+5′, silencing Stamford Bridge and sealing a memorable derby triumph for Marco Silva’s side.
Statistically, Fulham edged possession with 53% and matched Chelsea’s intensity throughout the second half, recording 14 shots to the Blues’ 12. Both teams committed 13 fouls in a physical affair, but Chelsea’s inability to manage the game in the final moments proved decisive.
For Enzo Maresca and his squad, the defeat marks a significant setback, especially after leading for more than an hour. Chelsea will now look to regroup quickly as they seek to re-establish consistency in a tightly contested Premier League campaign.
