Get ready for a soccer showdown that'll have you on the edge of your seat – a jaw-dropping clash where Manchester City clinched victory in a nine-goal rollercoaster, but not without a heroic resurgence from Fulham that turned the tide in unforgettable ways!
Imagine witnessing history unfold under the bright lights of this iconic stadium. Erling Haaland, the unstoppable force, shattered the 100-goal milestone in the Premier League – a record that's sure to spark debates among fans. And Phil Foden? He bagged his second brace in just four days (check out the match report from Leeds here: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/nov/29/manchester-city-leeds-premier-league-match-report). City surged ahead with a commanding 5-1 lead before the hour mark, yet Fulham clawed back desperately, nearly forcing a miraculous equalizer. The result? One of the top seven highest-scoring games in the Premier League's 30-year history – an absolute spectacle that kept everyone guessing.
The game's momentum was like a wild pendulum, swinging wildly through highs and lows. City kicked things off with explosive energy, dominating in two key bursts before and after halftime. But here's where it gets controversial – Fulham actually had more shots on goal and more of the ball, and they took control right after Alex Iwobi coolly netted their second goal, 12 minutes into the second half. While City walked away with the three points to keep chasing Arsenal (see the current table: https://www.theguardian.com/football/premierleague/table), they couldn't hide some glaring defensive cracks. Fulham, on the other hand, extended their losing streak against City to an incredible 19 matches, yet they proved they can hold their own against the best – a testament to their resilience that might make you wonder if underdogs can ever truly upset the giants.
Even in the opening five minutes, this game hinted at something extraordinary when Haaland botched a golden one-on-one opportunity. Set up by Foden, he blasted the ball past Bernd Leno, only for it to smack the post and roll agonizingly across the goal line. Could this have been a bad sign for the Norwegian striker, who was stuck on 99 Premier League goals after just two games? Nope – just 12 minutes later, he broke the deadlock, smashing the ball past a diving Leno after Tijjani Reijnders cleverly feinted to let Jérémy Doku's cross through.
His subdued celebration, with arms raised modestly, marked a monumental feat. Despite waiting through 180 minutes on the sidelines – that means three full games, for those new to soccer jargon – Haaland became the quickest player ever to hit a Premier League century, blowing past the previous records. Alan Shearer managed it in 124 games, Harry Kane in 141, but Haaland did it in just 111. For beginners wondering what a 'century' means here, it's simply scoring 100 goals in England's top league, a rare and prestigious achievement that highlights a striker's consistency and skill.
The away City supporters, chanting loudly, cheered their No. 9 hero, and Haaland delivered again soon after. At the 37-minute mark, with Rúben Dias controlling the ball at midfield, Haaland ventured back from his usual attacking position, bamboozling Joachim Andersen with a slick spin and threading a pass into the space for Reijnders to lob over Leno, extending the lead to two.
From two, it quickly became three when Leno chose to punch away a corner instead of catching it securely – a decision that backfired as the ball fell to Foden on the right. Fresh off his heroics against Leeds, the English midfielder took a composed touch and curled a stunning left-footed shot into the far corner. But the first half wasn't done yet, as Fulham ignited a flicker of hope when Emile Smith Rowe headed a diving effort over Gianluigi Donnarumma from a precise Harry Wilson delivery.
That glimmer of optimism carried into halftime and a bit beyond, until City pulled further ahead. Their fourth came in the 48th minute during a quick three-player counterattack that sliced through Fulham's defense, with Doku's cross finding Foden after Haaland's clever backheel, and the midfielder slotting it home calmly. Six minutes later, it was five; Doku dispossessed Andersen near the penalty area, and his shot deflected off Sander Berge before sneaking past Leno.
Surely that sealed it, right? And this is the part most people miss – Fulham refused to back down, and when reliable Iwobi tapped in from outside the box after City couldn't clear Wilson's cross, the stadium erupted. The fans, in a bizarre twist of encouragement, roared them on, shifting the energy dramatically.
Haaland struck the post once more with a powerful header, but then halftime substitute Samuel Chukwueze turned the game on its head by scoring his first two Premier League goals in rapid succession. The first was a drilled effort from the edge that needed VAR confirmation, and the second followed Donnarumma's weak clearance from a corner, with Chukwueze smashing it back past the keeper.
With eight minutes of stoppage time announced, it seemed like the wildest draw was imminent. And when lively Josh King received the ball in the box, twisted, and fired a low shot, it felt like parity was here.
But Josko Gvardiol heroically cleared off-balance, the final whistle followed, and the enchanting spell over southwest London faded into the night, leaving the crowd utterly captivated.
What do you make of this epic battle? Does Fulham's near-comeback prove they're contenders, or was it just a fluke against a vulnerable City side? And should Haaland's record be celebrated as genius or scrutinized for the team support around him? Share your opinions in the comments – let's debate!
