Manchester City 3-2 Fulham. Mateo Kovacic scored twice as Manchester City earned their first Premier League victory in three games, overcoming a determined Fulham side.
City controlled the opening stages, but it was Fulham who struck first with a brilliant team goal. Raul Jimenez produced a stunning backheel cross, setting up Andreas Pereira to score from close range. Fulham could have extended their lead, but Adama Traore missed two key opportunities—first being denied by Ederson in a one-on-one, and then sending a shot over the bar from inside the box.
City’s response came through Kovacic, who punished Fulham for their missed chances. His first goal came from a deflected first-time shot after a half-cleared corner. Kovacic then doubled his tally early in the second half with a well-placed strike from the edge of the area, putting City in control.
Fulham, however, didn’t back down. Traore continued to cause problems, outpacing Kyle Walker but again failing to beat Ederson. City, despite their lead, allowed Fulham several more chances before substitute Jeremy Doku extended their lead with a spectacular solo goal, cutting in from the left and firing into the top corner.
At that point, it seemed City had secured the win, but a defensive lapse left Rodrigo Muniz unmarked in the box, and he pulled one back for Fulham. Despite this late goal, Marco Silva’s side couldn’t find an equalizer.
City’s victory extended their unbeaten run at home to 50 games in all competitions, making them the fourth English top-flight team to achieve this feat. Before kick-off, City fans displayed a banner urging manager Pep Guardiola to stay, as his contract expires at the end of the season, and he has yet to commit to his future.
One notable absence for City was defensive midfielder Rodri, whose season-ending injury has had a clear impact on their form. Since he came off injured during their 1-1 draw against Arsenal, City had struggled, also drawing with Newcastle. A failure to win against Fulham would have marked their first three-game winless streak in 2024, and for a time, it seemed possible that Fulham could pull off an upset, especially if Traore had converted his chances.
Kovacic, partnered with Ilkay Gundogan in midfield, effectively filled in for Rodri. While neither player matches Rodri’s defensive capabilities, Kovacic proved to be the difference-maker with his two goals, providing City a crucial route back into the game. His first goal came at a time when Fulham looked capable of scoring more, and his second just after halftime swung momentum firmly in City’s favor.
When Doku scored City’s third, it seemed like the game was wrapped up, but Fulham’s late push, capped by Muniz’s goal, left City hanging on in stoppage time. Despite this, the win equaled City’s longest-ever unbeaten run in the league—30 matches, matching their stretch from April 2017 to January 2018.
Guardiola praised Marco Silva before the match for the excellent job he’s done at Fulham, a team that has struggled historically in this fixture. Fulham’s loss marked their 17th consecutive defeat against City, the longest such losing streak between two teams in English league history. However, Fulham put up a strong fight, causing City more trouble at the Etihad than some of the world’s best teams.
Their opening goal, created by Jimenez’s brilliant backheel, was a testament to Fulham’s quality. But Traore’s inconsistency in front of goal—something that has perhaps held him back from reaching the highest levels in football—proved costly. He missed two one-on-one chances, both saved by Ederson, and skied a third opportunity from 10 yards out.
Despite the defeat, Fulham remain sixth in the table, and Silva can take confidence from their spirited performance against the defending champions.
source – BBC
