By Frank Ulom
LONDON (CONVERSEER) – Ten-man Chelsea suffered a damaging 2-1 defeat to Fulham in a heated West London derby at Craven Cottage on Wednesday, losing further ground in the race for a Champions League place.
A first-half red card shown to Marc Cucurella proved decisive, forcing Chelsea to play roughly three quarters of the match with 10 men in front of new head coach Liam Rosenior, who watched from the stands.
Chelsea nearly took the lead midway through the first half when Enzo Fernandez’s corner drifted over Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno and was shouldered onto the crossbar by Andrey Santos from close range. Moises Caicedo’s rebound was then blocked on the line amid a scramble of Fulham defenders.
Moments later, the game turned sharply. Leno’s long kick caught Chelsea out of shape following another corner, releasing Harry Wilson with Cucurella in pursuit. The Spanish defender dragged Wilson down as the last man and was shown a straight red card, Chelsea’s seventh dismissal of the season.
Fulham thought they had gone ahead in first-half added time when Harry Wilson finished at Robert Sanchez’s near post following a move involving Jorge Cuenca and Raul Jimenez. However, Jimenez was adjudged offside in the build-up and the goal was disallowed.
The hosts eventually made their numerical advantage count shortly after the break. Sander Berge delivered a deep cross that found Jimenez, who escaped Trevoh Chalobah and headed Fulham into the lead.
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Chelsea responded briefly. Cole Palmer’s dummy sent Liam Delap through on goal, but his delicate finish was kept out by Leno’s outstretched arm and the loose ball was cleared off the line. Delap, however, redeemed himself soon after. From another dangerous corner, Antonee Robinson headed Pedro Neto’s delivery onto his own post, allowing Delap to react quickest and score from close range.
Fulham pressed relentlessly for a winner. Sanchez produced a series of saves to deny Jimenez in quick succession, but the pressure finally told. After the Chelsea goalkeeper parried Emile Smith Rowe’s low cross to the edge of the box, Wilson struck the loose ball emphatically to restore Fulham’s lead.
Chelsea were unable to find a late equaliser. The result leaves Fulham level on points with the Blues, while Brentford now sit two points clear of both West London rivals.
