Erling Haaland reached the landmark of 100 Premier League goals as Manchester City survived a furious Fulham comeback to win a breathtaking 5-4 thriller at Craven Cottage, extending their remarkable winning run in this fixture to 19 matches.
City, who needed a stoppage-time winner to see off Leeds at the weekend, wasted no time in asserting themselves. Haaland struck the post inside six minutes from a position where he normally punishes opponents, but the Norway striker did not pass up his next opening. Jeremy Doku drilled a low cross into the area, and Haaland swept home first time to hit his century in just 111 league games, the fastest player ever to reach that milestone.
Fulham’s brightest spark in the first period was Emile Smith Rowe, who forced Gianluigi Donnarumma into a low save before firing over from the edge of the box. However, City’s ruthlessness in the final third was on full display just before half-time. Haaland turned provider, sliding a pass into Tijjani Reijnders, who coolly lifted the ball over the advancing Bernd Leno. Moments later, Phil Foden added a stunning third, bending a glorious strike from outside the area into the top corner. Smith Rowe’s clever glancing header before the interval at least gave the hosts a lifeline.
Any hopes of a Fulham recovery appeared to be crushed within 10 minutes of the restart. Foden made it 4-1 with a composed finish from a tight angle, before Doku’s powerful effort deflected off Sander Berge and looped in under the bar for City’s fifth. It was the first time since 1927 that the visitors had scored five at Craven Cottage.
Yet Fulham refused to fold. Alex Iwobi curled a precise low shot into the far corner to reduce the arrears. Although City continued to threaten, with Haaland heading against the post when unmarked, the momentum began to tilt. With just under 20 minutes remaining, Samuel Chukwueze volleyed crisply into the corner for his first Fulham goal, sparking belief around the ground. The Nigerian winger then struck again, smashing another clinical finish into the corner after Donnarumma failed to deal with a corner, setting up a frantic finale at 5-4.
Roared on by a stunned yet energised home crowd, Fulham pushed desperately for an equaliser. Josh King came agonisingly close, only to see his late effort cleared off the line as City clung on to avoid what would have been one of the most dramatic comebacks in Premier League history.
City have now won four of their last five league fixtures and keep the pressure on leaders Arsenal. In contrast, Fulham, who suffered only their second home league defeat of the campaign, will take pride in their spirited fightback even if it ultimately yielded no reward.
