Chelsea start Alonso era with exciting 3-2 win at Fulham

· CNA · Join
Soccer Football - Premier League - Fulham v Chelsea - Craven Cottage, London, Britain - August 24, 2026 Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso celebrates after the match Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs
Soccer Football - Premier League - Fulham v Chelsea - Craven Cottage, London, Britain - August 24, 2026 Chelsea's Cole Palmer celebrates scoring their third goal with teammates Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs
Soccer Football - Premier League - Fulham v Chelsea - Craven Cottage, London, Britain - August 24, 2026 Chelsea's Morgan Rogers celebrates scoring their second goal with Jorrel Hato REUTERS/Dylan Martinez
Soccer Football - Premier League - Fulham v Chelsea - Craven Cottage, London, Britain - August 24, 2026 Fulham's Antonee Robinson reacts REUTERS/Dylan Martinez
Soccer Football - Premier League - Fulham v Chelsea - Craven Cottage, London, Britain - August 24, 2026 Chelsea's Cole Palmer celebrates scoring their third goal with Joao Pedro and Reece James Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs

Read a summary of this article on FAST.
Get bite-sized news via a new
cards interface. Give it a try.
Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FAST
FAST

LONDON, Aug 24 : Chelsea began life under new coach Xabi Alonso with a breathless 3-2 win at West London neighbours Fulham in the Premier League on Monday as their exciting front three of Joao Pedro, Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer all found the net.

Chelsea got off to a dream start after 31 seconds when Palmer – looking back to his best after struggling with an injury last season – passed to Joao Pedro and the Brazilian flicked the ball over goalkeeper Bernd Leno.

Fulham equalised when Josh King beat Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez at his near post in the 24th minute.

But two of Chelsea's new signings then combined in the 41st as central defender Maxence Lacroix jinked down the right before cutting the ball back to the club's £117 million ($159.47 million) record signing Rogers, who made no mistake.

CNA Games

Guess Word
Crack the word, one row at a time

Buzzword
Create words using the given letters

Mini Sudoku
Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser

Mini Crossword
Small grid, big challenge

Word Search
Spot as many words as you can
 Show More
Show Less

Four minutes into the second half, Palmer slotted the ball through Leno’s legs after he was fed by Joao Pedro.

Fulham's Gonzalo Garcia, on his league debut after signing from Real Madrid, gave the hosts hope by heading in after Sanchez could only parry a Timothy Castagne shot in the 54th.

Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez – a lynchpin of World Cup runners-up Argentina who has been linked with a move to Manchester City - was greeted with loud boos from the home fans when he came on as a substitute midway through the second half.

Fulham then had a great chance to level again through Antonee Robinson in the 78th minute but his chip over a stranded Sanchez went wide and Chelsea held out to claim the points.

($1 = 0.7337 pounds)

(Writing by William Schomberg)

Source: Reuters

Newsletter

Recommended Read

Subscribe to CNA's Recommended Read

A single handpicked story that we think you shouldn't miss. Just one a day.

Sign up for our newsletters

Get our pick of top stories and thought-provoking articles in your inbox

Subscribe here

Get the CNA app

Stay updated with notifications for breaking news and our best stories

Download here

Get WhatsApp alerts

Join our channel for the top reads for the day on your preferred chat app

Join here