Man City Edge Fulham 5–4 in Wild Shootout as Haaland Becomes Fastest Player to Reach 100 Premier League Goals

Analysis by Hikaru Sakamoto

December 2, 2025 (Tuesday)

Matchday 14 of the Premier League delivered absolute chaos at Craven Cottage, as Manchester City edged Fulham 5–4 in one of the wildest games of the season.

City came into the match sitting second with 25 points from 13 games. After dropping back-to-back losses early in the campaign, Pep Guardiola’s side had rebuilt momentum—but league-leading Arsenal were already five points ahead. A slip-up was not an option.

🔥 First Half — Haaland Enters the History Books

City struck first in the 17th minute.
A slick move down the left saw Nico O’Reilly find Phil Foden at the corner of the box. Foden sprayed the ball wide to Jérémy Doku, who drove in a low cross. Tijjani Reijnders cleverly dummied it, and Erling Haaland smashed home his 100th Premier League goal—reaching the milestone in just 111 matches, the fastest in league history.

City doubled their lead in the 37th minute.
Starting from a throw-in, they recycled possession back to Rúben Dias, who punched a vertical pass into Haaland’s feet. Haaland turned sharply and slipped Reijnders through on goal. The Dutchman kept his composure and made it 2–0.

Moments later, in the 44th minute, Fulham failed to clear a corner.
Leno’s punch only fell to Foden on the edge of the area, and the English midfielder fired a left-footed rocket into the net to put City 3–0 up.

⚪ Fulham Fight Back — and Things Get Chaotic

Fulham gave themselves life in first-half stoppage time when Emile Smith Rowe pulled one back.

But City restored their three-goal cushion almost instantly after the break.
In the 48th minute, a rapid counter saw Doku surge down the left. Haaland mishandled the final ball, but Foden arrived at full pace, burying his second of the night to make it 4–1.

City then grabbed a fifth in the 54th minute via an unlucky Fulham own goal.

At 5–1, the match looked dead…
But Fulham had other plans.

🔥🔥 Fulham’s Near-Miracle Comeback

In the 57th minute, Alex Iwobi struck to make it 5–2.
The home crowd suddenly woke up.

Then came super-sub Samuel Chukwueze, who turned the match into pure chaos.

• 72’ – Chukwueze scores: 5–3
• 78’ – Chukwueze again: 5–4

Fulham had City pinned deep and chasing shadows, but Guardiola’s side just managed to hang on.

Score
Fulham 4–5 Manchester City

scores
0–1 (17’) Haaland – City
0–2 (37’) Reijnders – City
0–3 (44’) Foden – City
1–3 (45+2’) Smith Rowe – Fulham
1–4 (48’) Foden – City
1–5 (54’) Own Goal – City
1–5 (54’) Own Goal – City
2–5 (57’) Iwobi – Fulham
3–5 (72’) Chukwueze – Fulham
4–5 (78’) Chukwueze – Fulham

City survive a nine-goal thriller, while Fulham walk away wondering how they didn’t complete the comeback of the season.

The Bigger Picture

Erling Haaland and Phil Foden turned this match into a complete spectacle. Haaland reaching 100 Premier League goals at an unbelievable pace felt less like a celebration and more like an inevitable outcome. He finished chances most players wouldn’t even attempt, once again leaving common sense behind. Foden, meanwhile, played with total confidence and freedom — firing in long-range efforts, arriving at exactly the right moments, and turning everything he touched into danger.

There was also a clear appreciation for Tijjani Reijnders. Even amid the chaos, his movement, touch, and intelligence stood out. His goal was more than just a number on the scoresheet; it felt like a meaningful moment for the player himself. That strike carried value far beyond the statistics.

Yes, the second half descended into complete chaos, and the clean sheet disappeared in an instant. Still, the overall mood was not anger. It was disbelief at the madness, mixed with a sense of enjoyment. A nine-goal shootout, a historic milestone, growing momentum, and a victory secured. This was football as pure entertainment.

Fan Reactions

City Fans

• Haaland is just absurd sometimes. He treats impossible chances like tap-ins.
• Haaland strikes again — he barely even needs an invitation.
• It’s wild how he finishes the hard ones but misses the easy ones. Absolute chaos player.
• City’s passing rhythm today was beautiful. Everything was one-touch and flowing.
• That one is going straight into Haaland’s personal highlight reel.
• Foden is playing out of his mind. This was always going to turn into a goal fest.
• Reijnders just played a filthy pass — pure elegance.
• Finally, Reijnders gets his moment. I’ve been waiting for that.
• You could tell Reijnders really needed that goal by the way he celebrated.
• Reijnders keeps proving why he’s such a joy to watch. His timing is on another level.
• Foden was unreal today. Everything he touched turned into danger.
• Another long-range rocket from Foden — he’s in ridiculous form.
• Honestly, I could’ve stopped watching at halftime and still been satisfied.
• Fair play, that strike from Smith Rowe was pure quality.
• There goes the clean sheet… again.
• Foden again — this match is getting ridiculous.
• Not sure if Haaland miscontrolled it or meant it, but either way, great goal.
• Doku joins the party. This match has turned into pure entertainment.
• That one’s definitely going down as an own goal.
• This has officially crossed into “dumb fun” territory.
• I can’t believe there was still half an hour left. Absolute mayhem.
• Fulham actually have some really good players.
• What even is this match? Comedy and chaos rolled into one.
• We’re conceding far too easily. This is getting stressful.
• This has gone full chaos-ball. Pure madness.
• Most of those goals were unstoppable. It’s hard to blame the keeper.
• Honestly, this is way more entertaining than it has any right to be.
• That was way too close for comfort.
• Somehow we still got the win. It looked easy at first.
• Congratulations to Haaland — fastest to 100 Premier League goals. What a machine.
• At least we got to celebrate Haaland’s milestone with a win. Hopefully this steadies things.

What Remains

Haaland is a monster. He scores when it matters, marks milestones with victories, and tears through supposedly unreachable records as if they were routine. Phil Foden was just as impressive — smashing in shots from range, appearing everywhere across the pitch, and looking like a player who has suddenly shifted into a higher gear. It’s easy to understand why some fans felt they could’ve stopped watching at halftime and already been satisfied.

Many supporters also felt that Tijjani Reijnders’ goal carried meaning beyond the scoreline. His movement, timing, and reaction afterward made it clear how much that moment mattered to him. It wasn’t just another goal in a chaotic shootout, but a step forward for a player visibly settling into the team.

At the same time, no one was under the illusion that this was a comfortable win. Comments about conceding “far too easily,” the match becoming increasingly “stressful,” and it descending into “full chaos-ball” captured the reality. The clean sheet disappeared, control slipped away, and the closing stages became pure survival.

Still, what ultimately remains is simple: City won, Haaland’s milestone was properly celebrated, and key players showed real sharpness. It wasn’t calm, and it certainly wasn’t reassuring — but it was a night that will be remembered.

sky sports
https://www.skysports.com/football/fulham-vs-manchester-city/report/531263?utm_source=chatgpt.com