Enzo Fernandez Shines, Raul Jimenez Reaches Premier League Milestone

By: Analia Gómez Published On: 01/09/2025

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Chelsea secured a narrow 2-1 victory against Fulham in a match filled with drama and contentious decisions. While the win provides a temporary respite for Chelsea, manager Enzo Maresca acknowledges the need for significant improvements during the upcoming international break if they aspire to mount a serious Premier League title challenge.

Chelsea's Lucky Escape

Fulham boss Marco Silva rightly felt aggrieved as his team should have taken the lead early on. A swift counter-attack saw Josh break through, only to be denied by a crucial save from Chelsea's Robert Sánchez.

Controversial Penalty Decision

A contentious penalty decision further compounded Fulham's frustration. Referee Robert Jones reviewed a challenge by Rodrigo Muniz, deeming it a 'gafil challenge' after VAR intervention. This decision, considered harsh by many, paved the way for Chelsea to take the lead against the run of play. Enzo Fernandez calmly converted the spot-kick, awarded after a review of Ryan Sesganon's handball – a decision that reignited the handball controversy following Manchester United's controversial goal against Fulham the previous Sunday.

Raul Jimenez's Milestone

Meanwhile, Fulham's Raul Jimenez achieved a significant milestone, reaching 200 Premier League appearances. This achievement places him among the elite players in the league's history. Jimenez is the only Mexican player to have reached this milestone in the Premier League. He has contributed 80 goals in his Premier League career, placing him in the top 20 for players with a maximum of 200 appearances. Eric Cantona leads this ranking with 126 goals plus assists in 200 games.

Looking Ahead

Despite the victory, Chelsea needs to address several weaknesses to compete at the highest level. Fulham, on the other hand, can take heart from their performance, but need to convert their chances into goals. The controversial decisions in this match will undoubtedly fuel further debate about the use of VAR in the Premier League.