Manchester City emerged victorious from a Premier League classic at Craven Cottage, defeating Fulham 5-4 in a match that will be remembered for a historic personal milestone and a breathtaking late fightback.
Haaland Makes History in Goal-Fest
The match was defined early on by a landmark moment for Erling Haaland. The Norwegian striker, starting the game on 99 Premier League goals, saw an early effort hit the post. However, he did not have to wait long, reacting quickest to a Jeremy Doku cross in the 17th minute to poke the ball past Bernd Leno.
That strike marked a phenomenal achievement. Haaland reached 100 Premier League goals in just 111 appearances, smashing the previous record held by Alan Shearer, who took 124 games. Harry Kane needed 141 matches for his century.
Haaland was instrumental again for City's second goal, dropping deep to spin past Joachim Andersen before sliding a perfect pass for Tijjani Reijnders to chip over Leno.
Foden Shines as City Race Clear
With the floodgates open, Phil Foden took centre stage. The England international, fresh from a brace against Leeds, made it 3-0 with a sublime left-footed curler from the edge of the box after Leno failed to clear a corner convincingly.
Fulham grabbed a lifeline before half-time through a clever diving header from Emile Smith Rowe, but City quickly reasserted their dominance after the break. Foden got his second and City's fourth in the 48th minute, finishing coolly after a rapid counter-attack involving Haaland and Doku.
Doku then got on the scoresheet himself, his shot deflecting past Leno to make it 5-1. At that stage, with less than an hour played, a rout seemed certain.
Fulham's Heroic Fightback Falls Just Short
Fulham, however, staged a remarkable and brave revival. Alex Iwobi pulled one back with a neat side-foot finish, before substitute Samuel Chukwueze announced himself with two excellent left-footed strikes. His first from the edge of the box required a lengthy VAR check, while his second came after Gianluigi Donnarumma could only punch a corner to the edge of the area.
The Craven Cottage crowd roared their team on, and an impossible comeback nearly became reality in the dying seconds. Josh King saw a goal-bound effort cleared off the line, denying Fulham a stunning equaliser.
Ultimately, City held on for a vital three points in a thrilling nine-goal encounter, one of the highest-scoring matches in the Premier League's 30-year history. While Haaland's record and Foden's brilliance secured the win, Fulham's courageous second-half performance ensured this was a night nobody in attendance will forget.
