LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 30: Joao Pedro of Chelsea applauds the fans following the Premier League match between Chelsea and Fulham at Stamford Bridge on August 30, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Match Report: Chelsea 2-0 Fulham – The VAR-by Derby

Chelsea scraped a 2-0 victory against their West London rivals, Fulham, in a match at Stamford Bridge that was overshadowed by two major and highly controversial VAR decisions. While the final score reflects a comfortable win for the Blues, the narrative of the match was dominated by the officiating and the frustration felt by Fulham and their manager, Marco Silva. Chelsea, now unbeaten in their first three games of the season, can consider themselves fortunate to have taken all three points.

The match began with a competitive tempo, and Fulham, in particular, looked the more dangerous side in the opening exchanges. The visitors pressed Chelsea high and caused problems for the backline. However, Chelsea’s momentum was disrupted early on when striker Liam Delap was forced off with a hamstring injury after just 14 minutes, adding to their existing injury concerns.

Key Moments in the Match

The Disallowed Goal (21st minute): Fulham thought they had the lead with a superb counter-attacking goal. Josh King, the 18-year-old forward, broke away, cut inside, and finished calmly past Robert Sanchez. The Fulham fans erupted, but the celebration was short-lived. VAR intervened, and after a lengthy review, the referee was advised to check the pitchside monitor. The goal was controversially disallowed for a “careless challenge” by Rodrigo Muniz on Trevoh Chalobah in the build-up, a decision that left Marco Silva visibly furious.
Joao Pedro’s Opener (45+9 minutes): The contentious VAR decision had a ripple effect, adding a massive eight minutes of stoppage time to the first half. Chelsea took full advantage. In the ninth minute of added time, Enzo Fernandez delivered a pinpoint corner, and Joao Pedro rose highest to head in the opening goal of the match. The timing of the goal, coming so deep into an already extended stoppage time, was a huge blow to Fulham’s morale.
The Penalty and Another VAR Check (56th minute): The VAR controversy continued in the second half. A Chelsea cross from Chalobah struck Ryan Sessegnon’s arm inside the box. Once again, the referee went to the monitor. After a four-minute delay, and despite further checks for a potential handball by Joao Pedro in the build-up and a possible foul on Joachim Andersen, the penalty was awarded.
Enzo Fernandez Converts: Enzo Fernandez stepped up to the spot and confidently slotted the penalty past Bernd Leno, doubling Chelsea’s lead and effectively sealing the victory.
Joao Pedro’s Goal-Line Clearance: In the dying minutes of the match, as Fulham pushed for a consolation goal, Joao Pedro showed his value at both ends of the pitch. He made a crucial goal-line clearance from a Joachim Andersen header, preserving Chelsea’s clean sheet.

Coach Tactics

Enzo Maresca‘s Chelsea side was unconvincing in the first half. They struggled to find fluidity and were too quick to resort to long passes, which played into Fulham’s hands. Maresca himself admitted that the team wasn’t “good enough” in the opening 45 minutes, particularly in winning second balls and duels. However, in the second half, the tactical shift was evident. Chelsea was more patient on the ball, dominated possession, and controlled the flow of the game, ultimately looking much more deserving of the win.

Marco Silva will feel that his tactics were successful, particularly in the first half. Fulham’s high press and counter-attacking style created genuine problems for Chelsea. They looked the better team for large periods, but the two major VAR decisions completely changed the complexion of the game. Silva’s frustration was palpable, as he believed his team was on the wrong side of two critical and highly debatable calls.

Stats

Possession: Chelsea 55% – 45% Fulham
Shots: Chelsea 13 – 11 Fulham
Shots on Target: Chelsea 6 – 3 Fulham
Corners: Chelsea 6 – 4 Fulham
Fouls: Chelsea 11 – 17 Fulham

Man of the Match

Joao Pedro takes home the honors. While Enzo Fernandez was also excellent, scoring and assisting, Joao Pedro’s all-around contribution was decisive. He scored the vital opening goal that broke the deadlock and then, in added time, made a heroic goal-line clearance to secure the clean sheet. His movement and work rate throughout the match were a constant threat to the Fulham defense. His performance highlights his growing importance to this Chelsea side.