Fulham Vs Chelsea Player Ratings: Heartbreak for Chelsea as Wilson Seals Last-Gasp 2-1 Fulham Win

Fulham came into this London derby knowing they had a real opportunity to hurt a vulnerable Chelsea side, and they grabbed it with both hands at Craven Cottage. The home crowd sensed something special early on, and Fulham’s intent was clear from the opening whistle as they pressed aggressively and refused to let Chelsea settle into any rhythm.

The turning point arrived far earlier than expected. Marc Cucurella’s moment of madness saw the Chelsea defender sent off, leaving the visitors to navigate over 70 minutes with ten men. Fulham immediately smelled blood and began piling on the pressure, forcing one of the best clubs in the world, Chelsea, deep into their own half.

Fulham thought they had the breakthrough before halftime when Harry Wilson found the net, only for VAR to intervene and rule it out. Undeterred, Marco Silva’s men came out flying after the break. Their persistence was finally rewarded when Raúl Jiménez rose highest to power home a classic striker’s header, igniting the Craven Cottage faithful.

Chelsea showed some fight despite the numerical disadvantage, pulling level through Liam Delap after a scrappy corner situation. However, Fulham refused to settle for a draw. Wilson, lively throughout the contest, delivered the decisive blow with a brilliant late winner to cap off a chaotic and thrilling encounter.

Here are Sportsdunia’s Fulham vs Chelsea Player Ratings from this dramatic Premier League clash.

Key Takeaways of the Game

• Fulham made their numerical advantage count, controlling large spells after Marc Cucurella’s red card and showing patience and belief to secure a deserved late winner at Craven Cottage.

• Chelsea’s discipline and defensive frailties were exposed, with the early sending-off forcing them into damage-limitation mode and ultimately costing them valuable points despite a brief fightback.

• Harry Wilson and Raúl Jiménez were decisive, with Wilson’s constant threat and match-winning goal complementing Jiménez’s clinical header in a performance that defined Fulham’s attacking intent.

Fulham Player Ratings vs Chelsea

Here are the Fulham Player Ratings for the EPL clash.

Goalkeeper

Bernd Leno - 7.5: A solid and reliable presence between the sticks. He made four crucial saves, including a couple of sharp stops to deny Cole Palmer and Liam Delap. He couldn't do much about the goal he conceded from close range. His distribution was decent, and he commanded his area well, especially under pressure in the final minutes. A confident performance from the German keeper.

Defenders

Joachim Andersen - 7.0: A typically composed display from the Dane. He read the game well and made four important clearances. Andersen was strong in his duels, winning four out of six contested. He was a calming influence at the back, especially when Chelsea pushed for an equalizer. A few misplaced passes, but overall very solid.

Issa Diop - 6.5: Had a very busy night against the Chelsea attack. He made a team-high five clearances and wasn't afraid to put his body on the line. However, he looked a bit shaky at times and lost a couple of key aerial duels. He'll be disappointed with his part in the conceded goal from the corner.

Jorge Cuenca - 6.0: Only played the first half before being substituted. He showed some tidy passing with 94% accuracy and wasn't afraid to get stuck in, winning both of his tackles. However, he picked up a needless yellow card just before the break for a late challenge. A mixed but short outing for him.

Midfielders

Timothy Castagne - 6.0: An energetic but somewhat frustrating performance. He got forward to support attacks but his final ball was often lacking. He also picked up a yellow card and lost possession 14 times, which is too high. A hardworking shift but lacking in quality at key moments.

Tom Cairney - 7.0: The captain was the heartbeat of the midfield for the 73 minutes he was on. He kept possession ticking over beautifully with 90% pass accuracy. He dictated the tempo and helped Fulham control the game against the 10 men of Chelsea. A classy, intelligent performance before being replaced to see the game out.

Sander Berge - 9.0: What a performance. From our perspective, he was the undisputed man of the match and the highest-rated player on the pitch. He completely ran the midfield from start to finish. The stats show two assists, but he was so much more than that. The cross for Jiménez's goal was inch-perfect. He won 8 of his 10 duels and had a pass accuracy of 96%. Just a dominant, commanding display.

Antonee Robinson - 7.0: A tireless display down the left flank. Robinson was a constant outlet, bombing forward to support the attack while also being diligent with his defensive duties. He made five clearances and won his single tackle. His energy was infectious and caused problems for Chelsea throughout his time on the pitch.

Forwards

Raúl Jiménez - 8.0: A fantastic center-forward performance. He scored the crucial opening goal with a powerful header, showing great movement to get free. Beyond the goal, his hold-up play was immense, winning an incredible six aerial duels. He worked tirelessly for the team, creating three chances for others. A real handful for the Chelsea backline.

Harry Wilson - 8.5: The match-winner. Wilson was a persistent threat all game. He had a staggering eight shots, showing his intent from the first whistle. He was unlucky to have a goal disallowed by VAR but showed great character to pop up with the decisive strike late on. A thrilling, all-action display from the Welshman.

Emile Smith Rowe - 6.5: A relatively quiet but effective game. He linked play nicely with a 93% pass accuracy and worked hard off the ball, recovering it five times. He didn't have the standout moments of his fellow attackers but played an important role in the team's structure before being substituted.

Substitutes

Kevin - 6.5: Came on at halftime and looked lively, forcing a good save with a shot from distance. Sasa Lukic - 6.0: Helped shore up the midfield to protect the lead. Ryan Sessegnon - N/A: Not on long enough to make a significant impact. Harrison Reed - N/A: Brought on late to see out the game.

Manager

M. Saraiva Da Silva - 8.0: His game plan worked to perfection. He set his team up to be aggressive from the start, and they expertly capitalized on the man advantage. His decision to keep pushing for a winner paid off handsomely. An excellent tactical victory for the Fulham boss.

Chelsea Player Ratings vs Fulham

Here are the Chelsea Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Robert Sánchez - 5.5: A difficult night for the Chelsea keeper. He made three saves, including a couple of decent ones to deny Wilson early on. However, his distribution was very poor, with only 23% of his long balls finding a teammate. He was left exposed for both goals but didn't inspire much confidence.

Defenders

Marc Cucurella - 2.0: A truly dreadful evening for the defender. What was he thinking? A straight red card just 22 minutes in is inexcusable at this level. He completely let his team down and ruined their game plan before it even got started. A moment of recklessness that cost his team dearly and made him the worst performer.

Tosin Adarabioyo - 6.5: Fought a losing battle at the back but did so admirably. He made a game-high seven clearances and was composed on the ball with 92% pass accuracy. He was put under immense pressure after the red card and did about as well as could be expected under the circumstances.

Trevoh Chalobah - 6.0: Like his defensive partner, Chalobah was under the cosh for most of the match. He made seven clearances and two interceptions, showing his defensive instincts. However, he struggled in the air, winning only one of his five aerial duels, which was a problem on the night.

Malo Gusto - 6.0: Had a very tidy game on the ball, completing 98% of his passes. Defensively, however, he was dribbled past twice and offered little going forward before he was substituted. A safe, but ultimately ineffective, performance.

Midfielders

Enzo Fernández - 6.5: The captain tried his best to drag his team back into the game. He created three chances and was always looking for a progressive pass. But he was often fighting a lone battle in midfield and his frustration showed with a yellow card. It was a surprise to see him substituted.

Pedro Neto - 6.0: A very frustrating outing for Neto. He was a willing runner and put in 11 crosses, but his final product was seriously lacking quality with only one finding its target. He hit the woodwork and always looked to make something happen, but it just wasn't his night.

Cole Palmer - 6.0: A mixed bag. He looked dangerous when he got on the ball, forcing a good save from Leno and testing the defense. On the other hand, he was dispossessed four times and picked up a booking. A performance of flashes rather than sustained quality.

Moisés Caicedo - 7.5: Chelsea's best player on the night, in our opinion. He was a warrior in midfield, winning an astounding 10 duels and making three tackles and three interceptions. He battled relentlessly for his team despite being a man down. A really impressive individual performance in a losing effort.

Forwards

Liam Delap - 7.0: He was a bright spark for Chelsea. He took his goal well, showing good instincts to be in the right place at the right time. He was a physical presence up front and got two of his three shots on target. He worked hard but was often isolated.

Substitutes

Andrey Santos - 6.0: Made a big impact in his short time on the pitch, hitting the crossbar. Unfortunate to go off injured. Jorrel Hato - 6.0: Came on to fill the defensive gap and had a couple of missed chances. Reece James - 6.5: Added some quality from the bench. João Pedro - N/A: Not enough time to rate. Josh Acheampong - N/A: Not enough time to rate.

Manager

C. McFarlane - 5.5: It's hard to be too critical when your game plan is destroyed by a red card so early. His team showed fight to get back to 1-1. However, they couldn't hold on to the point and ultimately, his substitutions didn't change the game enough to secure a result.

Player of the Match

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match: Sander Berge

Worst Performer

The player with the lowest performance in the Fulham vs Chelsea Player Ratings was Marc Cucurella.