🎬 Match Recap — What Went Down
On 2 December 2025 at Craven Cottage, London, Manchester City edged Fulham in one of the wildest Premier League nights in recent memory, edging a 5-4 win in a match that had everything: record-breakers, comebacks, late drama. (Premier League)
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Kick-off: 19:30 GMT. (SI)
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Final Score: Fulham 4 — 5 Manchester City (Premier League)
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Historic Moment: Erling Haaland became the fastest player to reach 100 Premier League goals, doing so in just 111 matches — surpassing the long-standing record of Alan Shearer. (Premier League)
🎯 Timeline & Key Moments
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17' — Haaland opens the scoring and hits the 100-goal milestone. (Premier League)
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37' — Tijjani Reijnders doubles City’s lead. (Premier League)
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44' & 48' — Phil Foden adds two more, pushing City 4-0 ahead before halftime. (Premier League)
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45'+2 — Fulham respond: Emile Smith Rowe heads one in. (NBC Sports)
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54' — A deflected goal (own goal by City) makes it 4-1 — Fulham still alive. (Premier League)
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57' — Alex Iwobi strikes to bring Fulham within 2. (Premier League)
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73' & 78' — Samuel Chukwueze’s brace almost levels the match — 5-3 then 5-4, Craven Cottage erupts. (Premier League)
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City survive late pressure — a goal-line clearance by Josko Gvardiol denies an equalizer. (Reuters)
The match ended as a chaotic, edge-of-seat thriller — a result many will call “impossible to enjoy,” but impossible to forget. (The Guardian)
🔎 Context & Build-up Before Kick-off
🆚 Recent Form & Stakes
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Coming into the match, Fulham had just secured a morale-boosting win: they beat Spurs 2-1 away — first away victory of the season and first win at their patch in several years. (Football Today)
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City, meanwhile, approached this fixture aiming to claim essential points in their title pursuit, eager to bounce back from any dips and stay close to the top. (Outlook India)
📊 Head-to-Head & Historical Trends
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Historically, City have dominated this fixture: in recent meetings, Fulham struggled to get wins or draws. (SI)
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The clubs have delivered many high-scoring matches when they meet — goal-glut games are common. (FC Tables)
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For Fulham: at home, there was hope. Their recent form (especially that win over Spurs) gave fans optimism for at least a fight — and maybe a surprise.
💡 Tactical & Player Analysis: What Went Right, What Went Wrong
Manchester City — Strengths & Vulnerabilities
Strengths:
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Deadly attacking trio + midfield support: Haaland, Foden, Reijnders, and others — proved lethal early on.
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Fluid attack and quick passing broke Fulham’s defense repeatedly — especially in first half.
Vulnerabilities:
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Defensive lapses post-half: conceding 4 goals (3 in the second half) — alarming for a side known for defensive solidity.
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Complacency after going 4-0 up might have cost them peace of mind, leading to chaos late.
Fulham — Heart, Fight & Comeback Spirit
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Despite trailing 4-0, the Cottagers showed mental strength: substitutes (especially Chukwueze) injected urgency and belief.
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Attacking transitions, willingness to commit players forward — rewarded with goals, kept crowd alive.
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However: defensive frailties were exposed — conceding 5 goals at home won’t earn you many points vs top sides.
📝 Implications: What This Result Means
For Manchester City
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Victory keeps them in the hunt for the title — points matter. Haaland’s 100-goal mark adds morale and historic context.
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But defensive warning signs — if this is not fixed, title defence could be painful. Late security risks like this can kill momentum.
For Fulham
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The fightback shows spirit — will boost dressing room confidence; fans saw heart & effort even in defeat.
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But conceding 5 at home — defensive issues remain; must fix leaks before facing stronger opposition.
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Performance like this (attacking + fight) could attract fans, maybe sponsors — if consistency improves.
For the League / Neutral Football Fans
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A match like this reignites debate: defensive solidity vs entertainment. This gave both.
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Shows that even smaller clubs (relative to giants) can challenge — when belief + risk + attack are combined.
📌 Match Summary & Notable Stats (At a Glance)
| Stat / Fact | Value / Note |
|---|---|
| Final Score | Fulham 4 — 5 Manchester City (Premier League) |
| Haaland 100-goal milestone | Yes — fastest ever in PL history (111 games) (Premier League) |
| Goal sources | City: Haaland, Reijnders, Foden (2); Fulham: Smith Rowe, Iwobi, Chukwueze (2) + 1 own-goal (Premier League) |
| Venue | Craven Cottage, London (SI) |
| Kick-off | 2 Dec 2025, 19:30 GMT (SI) |
🧠 What to Watch Next — Aftermath & Upcoming Fixtures
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City’s next match: They’ll aim to shore up defense quickly — cannot afford another defensive scare if they want to push for the title.
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Fulham’s focus: Defensive stability + carry forward attacking zeal into next games — if they balance both, this match could mark a turning point of belief.
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Fans & media narrative: Haaland’s record + match drama = big coverage. For neutral fans — match of the season candidate.
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