Mykhailo Mudryk ended his lengthy look ahead to a Chelsea purpose as Mauricio Pochettino’s aspect earned their second Premier League win of the season by beating Fulham 2-0 on Monday evening.
Ukraine winger Mudryk confirmed nice shut management and completed clinically earlier than Armando Broja netted his first purpose since October final yr to seal the factors halfway by means of the primary half.
Fulham rallied and appeared extra able to difficult the Blues within the second half however could not discover a route again into the match.
How the sport unfolded
Broja, plugged into the hole vacated by the suspended Nicolas Jackson up entrance, confirmed some encouraging indicators early on by powering behind the Fulham defence. A wild shot ended up within the crowd earlier than a belated offside flag was raised.
The Blues began easily in assault and labored an identical opening when good work from Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez allowed Mudryk to float in direction of the centre of the field. Nonetheless, his effort landed in an identical spot at Craven Cottage to Broja’s earlier strike.
Fulham struggled to match Chelsea early on and their sloppy begin price them expensive because the guests raced right into a two-goal lead with solely 71 seconds between the strikes.
Mudryk delivered on his early menace by amassing Levi Colwill’s pinpoint cross and sliding his end previous Cottagers stopper Bernd Leno, netting his first purpose for Chelsea since his mega-money arrival again in January.
For a Chelsea aspect that hadn’t scored within the Premier League since 25 August, their subsequent purpose got here alarming rapidly as Fulham dithered on the again.
USMNT defender Tim Ream was at fault, first giving a sloppy move straight to Palmer which allowed Broja to run in direction of purpose. Ream received to Palmer’s ensuing cross first however might solely cannon it off Broja and into the again of the web.
Fulham tried to press aggressively by means of Andreas Pereira and Harrison Reed however Mudryk was steadily accessible on Chelsea’s proper and it was Pochettino’s aspect who continued to take pleasure in extra of the probabilities.
One other terrible move from the again, this time from Issa Diop, was pounced upon by Enzo Fernandez who fed Palmer with a exact ball in behind. Nonetheless, the winger dallied earlier than Fernandez thumped extensive from the sting of the field.
Mudryk then powered previous Timothy Castagne once more out extensive however his cut-back was diverted away from hazard by the alert Leno.
Fulham’s restricted menace within the first half meant their first try on purpose solely got here within the forty first minute. A Pereira nook was attacked by Raul Jimenez, looking for his first purpose for his new membership since leaving Wolves, however his header sailed safely previous the far submit.
Mudryk was pressured off at half-time after amassing an damage and alternative Ian Maatsen went shut to creating it 3-0 simply after the hour mark.
The Dutchman arrived on the top of a flowing transfer however his away-swinging shot together with his left foot struck the submit earlier than the follow-up from Fernandez was nicely smothered by Leno.
Chelsea’s consideration turned in direction of seeing out the consequence in the course of the second half as Fulham tried to discover a route again into the sport.
Substitute Alex Iwobi did nicely to create house and cross in direction of Carlos Vinicius, however the Brazilian could not generate any energy on his header and the largely untested Robert Sanchez was capable of gather.
Spaniard Sanchez was then required in addition away an effort on purpose from Sasa Lukic when the Fulham substitute should have scored.
The sport limped in direction of the full-time whistle as a poor evening’s work from Fulham got here to an finish. Chelsea leapfrogged their west London rivals within the Premier League desk with the victory, sitting eleventh with the Cottagers down in thirteenth.
GK: Bernd Leno – 7/10 – Readily available to maintain the scoreline down with some sensible and courageous saves.
RB: Timothy Castagne – 5/10 – No match for pace with Mudryk however did place himself nicely to cease the Ukrainian jetting away too steadily.
CB: Issa Diop – 4/10 – Just a few sloppy passes within the first half set the tone for a disappointing night.
CB: Tim Ream – 3/10 – Contributed to Fulham’s downfall with a string of errors in Broja’s purpose.
LB: Antonee Robinson – 7/10 – Offered a extra stable efficiency in Fulham’s defence, usually selecting up the slack left by his teammates.
CM: Harrison Reed – 5/10 – A bit too eager to press excessive up the pitch, permitting Chelsea to move round him and transfer ahead rapidly.
CM: Joao Palhinha – 5/10 – Left on his personal when Chelsea turned over possession and broke rapidly.
CM: Andreas Pereira – 4/10 – Fortunate to keep away from a yellow for a few foolish fouls earlier than finally being booked. Few alternatives to ship fell wanting the required normal.
RW: Harry Wilson – 5/10 – Could not discover a goal with any of his crosses into the field earlier than making manner early within the second half.
ST: Raul Jimenez – 5/10 – Headed Fulham’s solely try of the primary half extensive and customarily minimize an remoted determine earlier than his withdrawal.
LW: Willian – 6/10 – Linked up nicely when Robinson went exterior him however could not present many probabilities on purpose for his teammates.
Substitutes
Carlos Vinicius (53′ for Jimenez) – 5/10 – One first rate probability on purpose however could not get any energy on his header.
Alex Iwobi (54′ for Wilson) – 6/10 – Buzzed into promising positions and arrange some promising moments.
Tom Cairney (65′ for Reed) – 6/10 – Some sensible passes within the ultimate third made Fulham extra fluid.
Sasa Lukic (75′ for Pereira) – 6/10 – Had Fulham’s finest probability however noticed it overwhelmed away by Sanchez.
Subs not used: Bobby De Cordova-Reid, Rodrigo Muniz, Calvin Bassey, Fode Ballo, Marek Rodak.
Supervisor
Marco Silva – 6/10 – Fulham’s gamers had been somewhat over-exuberant with out possession which gifted the guests house to play into. Substitutions gave Fulham extra of a foothold within the second half however the harm was achieved by that time.
GK: Robert Sanchez – 6/10 – Had nearly nothing to do within the first half. Clear sheet and was booked for time losing.
RB: Marc Cucurella – 7/10 – Booked for crashing into Willian within the first half. Was fleet-footed and assured in defence to an ordinary he is not often produced at Chelsea to date.
CB: Axel Disasi – 7/10 – Fulham offered little menace in behind Chelsea’s defence, a lot the visiting centre-back pairing’s delight. Disasi put in a stable displaying.
CB: Thiago Silva – 7/10 – Made seven clearances and was nicely positioned to cope with most of Fulham’s menace.
LB: Levi Colwill – 8/10 – Nice ball to Mudryk earned Colwill an help from left-back and he couldn’t be overwhelmed by any Fulham ahead on the flank.
CM: Conor Gallagher – 7/10 – Benefitted from Fernandez enjoying deeper, which allowed him to threaten with darts in direction of the field.
CM: Moises Caicedo – 7/10 – Managed to drive into house now and again and helped Chelsea see the sport out by selecting off interceptions. Limped off simply earlier than full-time.
CM: Enzo Fernandez – 7/10 – Dropped deeper in midfield from his earlier quantity ten function and appeared a lot neater for it, making tackles and setting Chelsea away on the counter.
RW: Cole Palmer – 7/10 – Confirmed nice toes in transition, when he consistently appeared a menace. Late foul and kicking the ball away received him a yellow.
ST: Armando Broja – 8/10 – Considerably fortuitous to double Chelsea’s lead however deserved the purpose with some sharp motion. Hopefully will not face one other spell injured on the sidelines.
LW: Mykhailo Mudryk – 8/10 – Take and end from Colwill’s purpose did not smack of a participant down on confidence. Needed to watch the second half after scoring his first Blues purpose attributable to an damage.
Substitutes
Ian Maatsen (46′ for Mudryk) – 6/10 – Got here near extending Chelsea’s lead however noticed his shot come again off the woodwork.
Raheem Sterling (65′ for Broja) – 5/10 – Booked rapidly after his arrival and had extra defensive than attacking work to do.
Lesley Ugochukwu (78′ for Palmer) – 6/10
Alex Matos (90′ for Fernandez) – N/A – Made his Chelsea debut on the eve of his nineteenth birthday.
Noni Madueke (90′ for Caicedo) – N/A
Subs not used: Deivid de Souza, Alfie Glichrist, Josh Brooking, Djodje Petrovic
Supervisor
Mauricio Pochettino – 7/10 – His aspect confirmed the mandatory scientific edge to take a robust two-goal lead they by no means appeared like relinquishing, incomes a second league win with the Blues.
Participant of the match – Levi Colwill (Chelsea)
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