In a thrilling encounter on Monday, Chelsea finally found their cutting edge, striking twice in 82 seconds to secure a 2-0 victory over Fulham.
This win marked just their second Premier League victory of the season, providing much-needed relief for manager Mauricio Pochettino.
Touchaheart Nigeria reports on the key moments of the match and how Mykhailo Mudryk and Armando Broja were the heroes of the day.
Early Struggles and Familiar Failings
Chelsea, who had been struggling to find the back of the net, entered the match with only five goals to their name in the Premier League.
Wasted early opportunities hinted at familiar failings, but the Blues were determined to turn the tide.
Mudryk’s Moment of Brilliance
The vital breakthrough came in the 18th minute when a long ball from the back found Levi Colwill on the left.
Colwill delivered a precise pass to Mykhailo Mudryk, who displayed remarkable composure, controlling the ball on his chest before calmly slotting it into the net.
This was Mudryk’s first goal for Chelsea since his move from Shakhtar Donetsk in January, a moment he won’t soon forget.
Broja Doubles the Lead
The lead was doubled just a minute later as Armando Broja capitalized on a defensive mistake from Fulham’s Tim Ream.
Ream’s error gifted the ball to new signing Cole Palmer, who was lurking outside the penalty box.
Palmer quickly played the ball forward, and Broja’s strike rebounded off Ream and into the net, much to Fulham’s dismay.
Chelsea’s Zest and Fulham’s Toothlessness
Chelsea continued to play with zest and could have extended their lead further, with Enzo Fernandez coming agonizingly close.
In contrast, Fulham struggled to muster a single shot on target in the first half, highlighting their toothlessness against Chelsea’s inventive play.
Second Half and Fulham’s Attempts
The second half saw some changes, with Ian Maatsan replacing Mykhailo Mudryk. Fulham, looking more threatening, introduced Alex Iwobi and Carlos Vinicius early on.
Vinicius had a headed opportunity, and goalkeeper Robert Sanchez had a heart-in-mouth moment when his goal kick was intercepted.
Chelsea almost extended their lead when Maatsan struck the upright, but Fulham’s goalkeeper Bernd Leno made a smart save from Fernandez’s follow-up.
The Late Fulham Surge
Fulham had a late chance to pull a goal back when Tom Cairney found Sasa Lukic in the six-yard box, but Lukic could only blast his effort straight at Sanchez.
Chelsea managed to hold on comfortably and climbed to 11th place, edging ahead of Fulham on goal difference.
What You Should Know
This thrilling victory for Chelsea not only ended their goal drought but also secured their second Premier League win of the season.
Mykhailo Mudryk and Armando Broja’s quickfire goals were the highlights of the match, and manager Mauricio Pochettino can breathe a sigh of relief as the pressure eases on his injury-ravaged team.
Chelsea fans will hope that this win marks the beginning of a resurgence for their beloved club in the Premier League.
