Chelsea Specials - Match Report - Fulham vs Chelsea

We were on our way to a boosting first away victory of the season when Mykhailo Mudryk scored his first goal in Chelsea colours and Armando Broja scored his first in over a year. On minute 18, Mudryk scored his first goal, capping off a brilliant move involving Levi Colwill and Moises Caicedo with a sure shot in front of the Hammersmith End.

Only 82 seconds passed until our next league goal—which came from Nicolas Jackson against Luton—after more than five hours had passed. Even though the goal had a little of luck to it, it was still a wonderful moment for Broja in his first start after suffering that terrible ACL injury back in December.

The Blues played with plenty of swagger in possession and tenacious tenacity outside of it, deserving winners for the 50th time against Fulham in our history. The score was 2-0 after 20 minutes, and that's how it stayed. Cole Palmer, Marc Cucurella, and Broja received Pochettino's first Premier League starts of the year. Palmer and Mudryk surrounded Broja on either side as Cucurella filled in at right-back. Due to an illness that interfered with his pregame workout, Raheem Sterling was forced to the bench. Chelsea had a good start. By the time two goals in as many minutes put us comfortably in charge of this west London derby, we already appeared to be a threat in transition.

Our three-game drought without a league goal was broken by the first, which was expertly constructed. Colwill was able to sprint on to a pass that Moises Caicedo blasted wide left and near the touchline. For Mudryk to chest the ball down and coolly slide it through Bernd Leno's legs, his lofted centre was perfectly weighted. After a long time of waiting, two goals appear at once! This was more Fulham's fault, and it is unmistakably a hint that our luck in front of goal is changing. Palmer attempted to sneak in Broja after intercepting an erroneous Tim Ream pass that was thrown out of the back. Ream crossed over to cut it out but was only successful in blocking it which resulted in goal via Broja pressured foot.

Prior to the resumption, Ian Maatsen took over for Mudryk, and it was he who came the closest to scoring the following goal, sending a shot off the left-hand post after receiving a cutback from the great Conor Gallagher. Leno did a good job of saving Enzo's follow-up attempt. After that double chance, Sterling replaced Broja because the Albanian was clearly worn out from playing his first hour of Premier League football in so long. On the 77th minute, when Fulham had their only real chance of the game and substitute Sasa Lukic was unable to beat our goalie from close range, Robert Sanchez had to perform at the top of his game.

The travelling crowd was able to sing along as the game dragged on to its conclusion, but Moises Caicedo's limping departure with the clock nearly out and Alex Matos' debut for Chelsea as a substitute marred the occasion.

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