Alonso's Debut
Xabi Alonso took charge of Chelsea for the first time on Monday, leading the Blues to a 3-2 win against West London neighbours Ful London in the Premier League. The match was played at Ful London’s Craven Cottage, with Chelsea travelling to secure the points.
Early Sparks
Chelsea opened the scoring just 31 seconds in when Cole Palmer, returning to his best form after a season-long injury, passed to Joao Pedro. The Brazilian flicked the ball over goalkeeper Bernd Leno, giving the Blues an early advantage. Ful London answered in the 24th minute when Josh King beat Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez at the near post to level the score.
Mid-Game Momentum
The second half saw Chelsea regain control. In the 41st minute, central defender Maxence Lacroix jinked down the right side before cutting the ball back to club record signing Morgan Rogers, who was on a £117 million fee. Rogers finished the move with a clinical goal, restoring a 2-1 lead. Four minutes later, Palmer slotted the ball past Leno’s legs after a feed from Joao Pedro, extending the advantage to 3-1.
Ful London’s Gonzalo Garcia, making his league debut after signing from Real Madrid, headed in a rebound from a Timothy Castagne shot in the 54th minute, cutting the deficit to 3-2. Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez, a key player for Argentina’s World Cup runners-up, was introduced midway through the second half but was greeted with loud boos from the home fans.
Late Drama
Ful London had a chance to level again in the 78th minute when Antonee Robinson chip-over a stranded Sanchez, but the ball went wide. Chelsea held on to claim the points, with the new front three - Joao Pedro, Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer - all finding the net. The win marks a positive start to Alonso’s tenure and a strong statement from the club’s new signings.
