On the evening Erling Haaland made Premier League history, Manchester City were pushed to the brink in a chaotic nine-goal thriller at Craven Cottage. The Norwegian star hit his 100th league goal just 17 minutes in — becoming the fastest player ever to reach the milestone — but what followed was anything but a routine celebration.

City took a 2–1 lead into halftime after strikes from Tijjani Reijnders and Phil Foden, though Emile Smith Rowe kept Fulham within touching distance. Early in the second half, Foden doubled his tally, and a calamitous Sander Berge own goal seemed to put the visitors out of sight at 5–1.

But Fulham had other plans. Backed by a roaring home crowd, Alex Iwobi and Samuel Chukwueze sparked a remarkable comeback attempt, dragging the scoreline to 5–4 and sending City into full survival mode. In stoppage time, Joško Gvardiol produced a heroic goal-line clearance — the moment that ultimately preserved all three points.

The result brings Pep Guardiola’s men closer to Arsenal in the title race, while Fulham stay 15th despite their spirited late surge.

2025-26, England - Premier League

Fulham - Manchester City 4:5 (1:3)
Goals: Håland E., 17 (0:1); Reijnders, 37 (0:2); Foden, 44 (0:3); Smith Rowe, 45 (1:3); Foden, 48 (1:4); Berge, 54 (own goal) (1:5); Iwobi, 57 (2:5); Chukwueze, 72 (3:5); Chukwueze, 78 (4:5)

Fulham: Leno; Tete K. (Castagne, 46); Bassey; Andersen J.; Berge; Lukic (Chukwueze, 46); Sessegnon R.; Smith Rowe (King J., 74); Raul Jimenez (Kusi-Asare, 73); Wilson H. (Kevin, 82); Iwobi
Substitution: Castagne (from 46); Chukwueze (from 46); Kusi-Asare (from 73); King J. (from 74); Kevin (from 82)
Bench: Lecomte; Cuenca J.; Reed H.; Cairney

Manchester City: Donnarumma G.; Dias R.; Gvardiol; Reijnders (Cherki, 82); Nico González (Stones, 64); Bernardo Silva; Matheus Nunes; Foden (Ake, 97); O'Reilly; Håland E.; Doku J. (Sávio Moreira, 64)
Substitution: Stones (from 64); Sávio Moreira (from 64); Cherki (from 82); Ake (from 97)
Bench: Trafford; Aït-Nouri; Khusanov; Lewis R.; Marmoush
Yellow Cards: Cherki 95