Review

Mudryk's first Chelsea goal helps secure derby win at Fulham

2 Oct 2023

Quickfire strikes from Ukrainian and Broja seal 2-0 success for the Blues' first away victory of the season

Mykhailo Mudryk's first goal for Chelsea and an Armando Broja strike in the space of 82 seconds helped secure a 2-0 victory at Fulham for the Blues' first away win of the season, moving them above their west London rivals.

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After beating Brighton & Hove Albion in the EFL Cup last Wednesday, the Blues have now won successive matches in all competitions for the first time since the end of August.

The victory was also the Blues' first against a side starting the day above them in the table since May 2021, a 2-1 win against Leicester City.

How the match unfolded

Broja, starting his first Premier League match since last November, missed a glorious chance to give Chelsea a second-minute lead.

The striker capitalised on a defensive mix-up before rounding Bernd Leno, but with only a few defenders on the line, Broja sent his effort high and wide.

That miss did not prove costly, though, as Chelsea took the lead on 18 minutes through Mudryk, who controlled Levi Colwill's glorious pass over the top of Fulham's defence before sliding the ball through Leno's legs for his first goal for the club in his 24th appearance in all competitions.

And less than two minutes later, Broja made amends for earlier his miss by doubling Chelsea's lead.

From the kick-off, Fulham played the ball back to Tim Ream, whose pass was intercepted by Cole Palmer. The winger, making his first Premier League start for the club, then fed the ball into Broja, and despite Ream's attempted recovery clearance, the ball deflected off Broja and into the net.

See: Pochettino: I am pleased for Mudryk and Broja

The visitors nearly put the contest to bed just after the hour-mark when substitute Ian Maatsen struck a post, with the resulting effort from Enzo Fernandez being saved by Leno.

Fulham did have a great chance to reduce the deficit through substitute Sasa Lukic, but he could only shoot straight at Robert Sanchez from six yards out.

It was a deserved victory for Mauricio Pochettino's side, but it did come at some cost with both goalscorers, Mudryk and Broja, appearing to pick up injuries.

Chelsea move up to 11th on eight points, ahead of 13th-placed Fulham on goal difference.