Chelsea show character as they move to fifth in battle for Champions League place
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Chelsea move into fifth spot as the race for Champions League places heats up.
Pedro Neto buried a net-buster of a stoppage-time winner to propel Chelsea back into the Champions League qualification slots.
The winger added to Tyrique George's first Premier League goal as Enzo Maresca's men moved up to fifth place. It also took the heat off the Italian, who had been booed at half-time by the away end.
Fulham ran out of steam and could not hold on to an early lead given to them by Alex Iwobi's fine strike. Teenage substitute George replied with an equally impressive shot in the 82nd minute - and Neto's winner in the third minute of added time was even better.
"I think it could be a big part of the season for us," the winger said. "We showed character. The belief has always been there, even in the bad moments. Sometimes in this game it is not about the quality, it's about the spirit and that's what we showed ."
Nottingham Forest will bump Chelsea back out of the top five with a result at Tottenham tonight but Maresca, who was booked for celebrating Neto's winner too enthusiastically, knows his position as well as his team's could be far worse. Fulham bossed the first half completely and Chelsea fans let him know what they thought, not for the first time either.
Andreas Pereira poked home from close range following some utter chaos in the Chelsea box. Ryan Sessegnon was offside in the build-up however, possibly more than once, so it did not count.
Fulham returned to take the lead in the 20th minute through Iwobi, who took a touch with his right foot to take the ball into the box and used his left to despatch it low across goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.
The setback was a particular blow for Reece James, who had been mugged of possession by Sessegnon. The Chelsea captain seemed to be unaware that Sessegnon was bearing down on him at speed from behind and neither referee Anthony Taylor or VAR sought to penalise the Fulham man, who swiftly set up Iwobi.
James was one of two Chelsea men who did not reappear for the second half, with Noni Madueke replaced by Jadon Sancho.
Good work from Enzo Fernandez and Jackson set up Neto for a sight of goal but Leno saved with his legs. It was the game's clearest chance by far.
The visitors sent on George in place of Jackson, whose goal drought dating back to mid-December continues. And it worked as Robinson inadvertently diverted the ball to where the teenager was lurking just outside the box. George did not hesitate and planted a low drive beyond Leno.
Fulham were running on fumes and had no answer to Neto's sensational winner three minutes into added time. The winger swivelled to control Fernandez's ball into the box and lashed an unstoppable rising drive into the net.
That dented Fulham's own hopes of European football next season and only Ipswich have dropped more points from winning positions this term.
"We have to face it as it is," said manager Marco Silva. "We are part of a bunch of clubs fighting for something important."
Leno 7; Tete 6 (Castagne 79), Andersen 6, Bassey 7, Robinson 6; Berge 7, Lukic 6 (Cairney 72); Sessegnon 7 (Wilson 79), Pereira 7, Iwobi 7; Jimenez 6.
: Benda, Cuenca, Reed, Traore, Willian, Vinicius.
: Sanchez 6; James 5 (Gusto 46, 7 (Tosin 89)), Chalobah 7, Colwill 7, Cucurella 7; Caicedo 7, Fernandez 7; Madueke 6 (Sancho 46, 7), Palmer 6, Neto 7; Jackson 5 (George 78).
: Jorgensen, Badiashile, Acheampong, Lavia, Dewsbury-Hall.
: Anthony Taylor 6
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