Key Takeaways:
- Manchester City secured a narrow 5:4 victory over Fulham last night at Craven Cottage, moving within two points of leaders Arsenal
- Erling Haaland scored his 100th Premier League goal, reaching the milestone faster than anyone before in just 111 appearances
- City claimed their 19th consecutive win over Fulham in all competitions
Match Analysis
Manchester City survived a late onslaught as they emerged victorious, 5:4, in a pulsating encounter against Fulham at Craven Cottage. The visitors raced into a commanding four-goal lead early in the second half, but had to withstand a determined comeback from the hosts in the closing stages. With this result, Pep Guardiola’s side reduced the gap to league leaders Arsenal to just two points, as Arsenal are set to play tomorrow.
🇳🇴 Erling Haaland on scoring 100 goals for Manchester City:
🗣️ Haaland: "It's huge and I'm really proud. Of course, it's a massive thing. The '100 Club' is a nice thing to be in, and I'm happy.
When you're a striker for Man City, you should be delivering great numbers. And… pic.twitter.com/gDw13NIt5f
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Footballtweet) December 2, 2025
City began assertively in rainy conditions, controlling possession and setting the tempo from the outset. In the sixth minute, a slick combination saw Phil Foden set up Erling Haaland, who rattled the post on his first opportunity. Fulham responded with a threatening move of their own, but Harry Wilson’s delivery was cut out by the City defence.
The breakthrough came in the 17th minute when Jeremy Doku’s dangerous cross eluded the Fulham defenders and reached Haaland, who clinically found the net. With this strike, Haaland reached 100 Premier League goals in just 111 matches, surpassing Alan Shearer’s previous record of 124 games to reach the century mark.
City doubled their advantage in the 37th minute with Haaland turning provider, setting up Tijjani Reijnders to coolly finish past the keeper. Fulham’s situation deteriorated further moments before the interval, as Bernd Leno’s punch fell to Phil Foden, who dispatched a fine shot from range for City’s third.
However, Fulham gained a lifeline in first-half stoppage time when Emile Smith Rowe headed home from Wilson’s cross, reducing the arrears to 1:3 before the break.
Second Half Surge and Chaotic Finale
Within three minutes of the restart, City restored their three-goal buffer. Reijnders and Doku combined on a swift counterattack, with Doku’s mis-hit effort falling to Foden at the far post, leaving him with a simple finish to make it 1:4. The advantage was extended further when Sander Berge diverted Doku’s shot into his own net, registering an own goal to make it 1:5.
Fulham responded instantly as Alex Iwobi latched onto Wilson’s pass and slotted past Donnarumma to bring it back to 2:5. The hosts immediately increased the pressure, forcing Donnarumma into a smart save from Raúl Jiménez, before substitute Samuel Chukwueze made a dramatic impact, scoring twice within five minutes. His first came following a deflected cross from Castagne, which Bernardo Silva could not clear, and Chukwueze finished emphatically. After a lengthy VAR review, the goal was awarded, sending the home crowd into celebration. Moments later, Donnarumma failed to clear a corner convincingly, with the ball falling to Chukwueze, who netted his second of the match.
As Fulham pushed for an equaliser in the dying moments, City’s Josko Gvardiol missed an opportunity to seal the win, opting to cross for Haaland instead of shooting, giving Fulham a reprieve. In stoppage time, Fulham came agonisingly close to levelling as Josh King’s effort beat Donnarumma, but Gvardiol intervened just before the goal line to preserve City’s lead.
Player Performances and Statistics
| Scorer | Minute | Team | Score at Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erling Haaland | 17 | Manchester City | 0:1 |
| Tijjani Reijnders | 37 | Manchester City | 0:2 |
| Phil Foden | 44 | Manchester City | 0:3 |
| Emile Smith Rowe | 45+1 | Fulham | 1:3 |
| Phil Foden | 48 | Manchester City | 1:4 |
| Sander Berge (own goal) | 55 | Manchester City | 1:5 |
| Alex Iwobi | 57 | Fulham | 2:5 |
| Samuel Chukwueze | 70 | Fulham | 3:5 |
| Samuel Chukwueze | 73 | Fulham | 4:5 |
Haaland not only registered his 100th league goal but also delivered two assists and struck the woodwork twice. Foden netted a brace, while Reijnders, Iwobi, Smith Rowe, and Chukwueze all made significant contributions for their respective teams. City’s 19th consecutive win in all competitions against Fulham highlighted their dominance in this fixture, but their defensive frailties nearly cost them dearly.
What This Means for the Title Race
This victory propels Manchester City to within two points of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table. However, with Arsenal still to play their fixture, the title race remains finely poised. Fulham’s spirited fightback showcased their resilience, but City’s firepower once again proved decisive on a dramatic night in West London.
