Goal-shy Chelsea finally found their cutting edge on Monday, striking twice in 82 seconds to beat Fulham 2-0 and earn just their second Premier League win of the season.
Mauricio Pochettino’s injury-ravaged team travelled to the home of their near-neighbours just two points above the relegation zone and with only five goals to their name.
Wasted early opportunities hinted at familiar failings but Mykhailo Mudryk scored his first goal in a Chelsea shirt in the 18th minute and Armando Broja doubled the lead a minute later.
The vital win lifts Chelsea to mid-table and eases the pressure on new manager Pochettino, whose team had failed to score in their previous three Premier League games.
Broja, making his first start since November 2022, blazed over from an offside position shortly after kick-off and the lively Mudryk fired wastefully over.
Fulham were enjoying the bulk of the possession but looked toothless against their inventive opponents in blue.
The visitors got their reward in the 18th minute when a long ball from the back found Levi Colwill on the left.
Colwill passed to Mudryk, who controlled the ball on his chest before producing a composed finish for his first goal for the club since his big-money move from Shakhtar Donetsk in January.
Chelsea doubled their lead in the blink of an eye when Broja capitalised on a defensive mistake from Fulham centre-half Tim Ream, who gifted the ball to new signing Cole Palmer, lurking outside the penalty box.
The ex-Manchester City man played the ball forward only for Ream to kick it against Broja and watch in horror as it rebounded into the net.
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Chelsea, playing with zest, could have extended their lead further but Enzo Fernandez’s strike flew narrowly wide.
Amazing