Fulham came agonisingly close to a historic upset in their 5–4 defeat to Manchester City, a breathless Premier League encounter that lit up Craven Cottage. The match, which followed a morale-boosting win over Tottenham Hotspur, showcased Fulham’s defiance as they clawed back from a daunting deficit in a second-half surge.

Samuel Chukwueze played a decisive role after coming on at halftime, scoring twice to spearhead Fulham’s rally. The winger—on loan from AC Milan—opened his Premier League account with a sharp 72nd-minute volley that restored belief. His second strike six minutes later, a curling finish that rippled into the corner, underlined his explosive form, bringing his recent tally to four goal involvements across three matches.

Alex Iwobi added to the momentum with a precise low effort from outside the area, cutting City’s lead to 5–2 and igniting Craven Cottage. After the match, Iwobi admitted to feeling disappointed by the result but praised the resilience shown by the squad, crediting the crowd’s relentless energy. He also hailed Chukwueze—affectionately called “Chukwu-magic” around the training ground—for his growing influence.

Manager Marco Silva continued his praise for Chukwueze’s development, noting the winger’s “massive” impact in recent weeks. Silva highlighted his earlier contributions against Tottenham and Sunderland, expressing only one regret: that Chukwueze hadn’t joined early enough to enjoy a full preseason. Silva added that the player’s minutes are being carefully managed due to recent physical demands.

Fulham now face a looming challenge, with Chukwueze, Iwobi and Calvin Bassey all set to depart for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in just over two weeks. Silva acknowledged the difficulty of losing such influential figures, describing Chukwueze as a “jokey card” capable of changing matches from either flank. He praised the Nigerian trio for creating a vibrant atmosphere within the squad and lifting spirits on and off the pitch.

The match began disastrously for Fulham, who found themselves 3–0 down by the 44th minute after goals from Erling Haaland, Tijjani Reijnders and Phil Foden, before Emile Smith Rowe struck back. City extended their lead to 5–1 shortly after the restart, setting the stage for Fulham’s spirited yet incomplete comeback. According to Opta, it was the first time since 1952 that Fulham had lost a home league game despite scoring four goals—a remarkable statistic that underscores the chaos of the contest.

As they prepare for a London derby against FA Cup champions Crystal Palace, Fulham will hope to carry their renewed fighting spirit into the next test, armed with the belief that they can go toe-to-toe with the Premier League’s most dominant forces.