Live: Chelsea vs Fulham, 2:30 AM on January 8th

(Football result) - Chelsea endured a painful 1-2 loss away at Fulham after a crucial red card, deepening their struggles and making their top-four ambitions in the Premier League more difficult.

In the early hours of January 8th (Vietnam time), Chelsea continued to disappoint by losing 1-2 to Fulham at Craven Cottage, in the context of the 21st round of the 2025/26 Premier League season.This defeat pushed The Blues further into crisis, especially as they had to play with one fewer player from very early on.

Chelsea started the match proactively, quickly putting pressure on Fulham’s goal. Pedro Neto’s wing runs combined with shooting attempts from Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez helped the visitors control the game for the first 15 minutes. However, the turning point came in the 22nd minute. After a reckless challenge, Marc Cucurella received a direct red card following a VAR review, leaving Chelsea with only 10 men.

With the numerical advantage, Fulham gradually regained control and started creating more dangerous chances. The home side managed to put the ball in Chelsea’s net near the end of the first half, but Harry Wilson’s goal was disallowed for offside after VAR intervention. The teams went into halftime at 0-0, although Fulham had generated more threatening opportunities.

In the second half, Fulham quickly capitalized on their extra player. In the 55th minute, from a precise cross on the right wing, Raul Jimenez rose powerfully to head the ball into the net, giving the hosts a 1-0 lead. This goal boosted Fulham’s confidence, while Chelsea were forced to push forward despite their disadvantage.

Chelsea’s efforts were finally rewarded in the 72nd minute. Taking advantage of a loose ball inside the box, Liam Delap reacted quickly to score neatly, leveling the score at 1-1 and reigniting hope for the visitors. However, Chelsea’s joy was short-lived. In the 81st minute, from a scramble in the penalty area, Harry Wilson was perfectly positioned to deliver a low, precise shot that sealed a 2-1 victory for Fulham.

In the final minutes, Chelsea threw everything forward but failed to find an equalizer. In the end, Fulham took all three points, while Chelsea dropped to 7th place on the table with 31 points, three points behind the top four, continuing to face mounting pressure in the race for a Champions League spot.