Manchester City emerged victorious from a breathtaking nine-goal spectacle at Craven Cottage, narrowly defeating Fulham 5-4 after a nerve-shredding finale on Tuesday night.
Haaland's Historic Milestone in Goal-Fest
The match will be remembered for a landmark personal achievement. Erling Haaland netted his 100th Premier League goal, reaching the extraordinary milestone in just 111 appearances. This shattered the previous record held by Alan Shearer, cementing the Norwegian striker's status as one of the most prolific scorers the division has ever seen.
City appeared to be cruising to a straightforward victory after establishing a seemingly unassailable 5-1 lead. Alongside Haaland's historic strike, Phil Foden found the net twice, while a deflected effort and the creative brilliance of Jeremy Doku, who provided key assists, contributed to the commanding scoreline.
Fulham's Stunning Late Comeback
The drama, however, was far from over. Fulham staged a remarkable second-half resurgence that sent shockwaves through the visiting defence. Alex Iwobi sparked hope with a goal, before substitute Samuel Chukwueze produced a stunning quick-fire double.
Suddenly, the scoreboard read 5-4 and a stunned Craven Cottage roared its team forward in search of an improbable equaliser. City, who had looked imperious, were left clinging on desperately in the closing minutes as Fulham's relentless pressure intensified.
Defensive Concerns for City Despite Victory
While Pep Guardiola's side ultimately secured all three points, the manner of the victory will raise significant questions. The defensive collapse, conceding three late goals, highlighted clear vulnerabilities that other title contenders will note.
This narrow win leaves Manchester City two points behind league leaders Arsenal in what is shaping up to be a tightly contested Premier League title race. The result at Craven Cottage proves they can outscore any opponent on their day, but also serves as a stark warning that such defensive lapses could prove costly in the pursuit of silverware.
