Muniz fires Fulham to famous Stamford Bridge success
Yesterday at 12:59 PM
Rodrigo Muniz scored a stoppage-time winner as Fulham came from behind to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge for the first time in 45 years. Marco Silva switched systems and made five changes but it looked as though he would be frustrated by Cole Palmer’s early strike before his substitutions turned the game. Harry Wilson headed his fourth goal from the bench in six weeks before Muniz slotted into the far corner to secure the Cottagers’ first success in the SW6 derby since John Beck and Gordon Davies sealed a Second Division win.
Derby defeat will be devastating to Chelsea’s title ambitions, leaving them four points behind Liverpool having played two games more. Enzo Maresca’s men were fortunate to lead through Cole Palmer’s effortless finish on the quarter hour as they had been bystanders before then, but the England man could easily have had a hat-trick by half-time with Bernd Leno and Issa Diop coming to the Cottagers’ rescue. But the visitors controlled possession and territory, with Raul Jimenez curling a shot into the arms of Sanchez seconds before Palmer poached his 26th goal of the calendar year.
Levi Colwell found the playmaker with a perceptive pass but it was far too easy for him to saunter between Andreas Pereira and Sasa Lukic before steering a shot through Diop’s legs and into the far corner. Leno spread himself well when he shot from the edge of the area shortly afterwards, but Fulham wasted glorious openings of their own. Jimenez shot wide from the inside right position with Pereira spooning a shot high over the bar. Calvin Bassey created their best chance, with Sanchez just about holding onto the centre half’s speculative strike after a rampaging run into the box. The Nigerian then made a superb saving tackle to prevent Palmer from doubling the lead just before half time.
Alex Iwobi almost curled home a lovely leveller after surprising Sanchez at his near post but his effort whistled just wide. Leno tipped over a fierce drive by Enzo Fernandez after the resumption before being relieved that Levi Colwell’s header was ruled out from offside. Marc Cucurella saw a back-post header brilliant kept out by Leno’s agility but Chelsea never looked comfortable with Antonee Robinson a frequent menace on the left flank. The left wing-back should have scored after latching onto a through ball by Adama Traore but was denied by a brave stop from Sanchez.
Muniz headed a Robinson cross straight at the Chelsea goalkeeper shortly after replacing Jimenez but the goal arrived from Wilson as the Welsh international continued his record of scoring big goals in London derbies. A well-worked move saw Iwobi elude Neto’s attempts to rugby tackle him by the left flank. Whilst the former Wolves winger cynically fell to the floor, the Cottagers kept going. Robinson hung a deep cross to the back post where Timothy Castagne kept it alive with a clever header and Wilson nodded the Whites level with eight minutes remaining.
Fulham felt they could win it – but their sense of adventure has seen them concede late goals regularly this campaign. It could have happened again here but Diop got his body into the away of another Cucurella header and Fernandez fired the follow-up straight at Leno. Silva waved his side forward and they made history in the fifth minute of added time. Wilson exploited Chelsea’s lack of numbers in defence with a wonderfully weighted pass for Sasa Lukic. The Serb ignored Timothy Castagne’s plea for the ball, picking out Muniz instead – and the Brazilian took a touch before finding the far corner to send the lucky lottery winners in the away end wild.
CHELSEA (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; Gusto, Cucerella, Adarabioyo, Colwill; Caicedo, Fernandez; Neto, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson (Nkunku 74). Subs (not used): Bettinelli, Jorgensen, Acheampong, Disasi, Casadei, George, Felix, Guhiu.
BOOKED: Neto.
GOAL: Palmer (16).
FULHAM (3-4-3): Leno; Andersen, Diop, Bassey; Castagne, A. Robinson; Lukic, Pereira (Cairney 74); Iwobi (R. Sessegnon 90+3), Traore (Wilson 67), Jimenez (Muniz 74). Subs (not used): Benda, Cuenca, King, Godo, Vinicius.
BOOKED: Lukic, Andersen, A. Robinson.
GOALS: Wilson (82), Muniz (90+3).
REFEREE: Sam Barrott (Yorkshire).
ATTENDANCE: 39,687.
