Chelsea Benefit From VAR Controversy To Beat Fulham

Published

10 months ago

August 31, 2025

Admin

/home/naijuinz/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 27
https://naijablitznews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/cfv.jpg&description=Chelsea Benefit From VAR Controversy To Beat Fulham', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">

/home/naijuinz/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 72
https://naijablitznews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/cfv.jpg&description=Chelsea Benefit From VAR Controversy To Beat Fulham', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">

ADVERTISEMENT

Chelsea took advantage of VAR controversy to beat Fulham 2-0 as the visitors were left to rue a series of costly decisions awarded against them at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

Enzo Maresca’s side were fortunate not to fall behind in the west London derby when Fulham were harshly denied a first half opener.

Josh King’s strike was ruled out after VAR deemed Rodrigo Muniz’s accidental collision with Trevoh Chalobah was worthy of a foul.

As if that wasn’t infuriating enough for Fulham boss Marco Silva, Joao Pedro put Chelsea ahead beyond the scheduled eight minutes of stoppage-time at the end of the first half.

Adding to Silva’s anger, Chelsea’s second goal was also VAR-influenced as Ryan Sessegnon was adjudged to have handled a cross, leading to Enzo Fernandez converting from the penalty spot.

After drawing with Crystal Palace and routing West Ham 5-1, Chelsea’s third successive Premier League clash with a London rival extended their unbeaten start to three games.

Alejandro Garnacho watched from the stands at Stamford Bridge after the Argentine winger travelled to Chelsea’s training ground on Friday to finalise his move from Manchester United.

Garnacho’s impending arrival comes with Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson set for a loan switch to Bayern Munich, while Christopher Nkunku signed for AC Milan on Saturday.

Liam Delap, leading Chelsea’s overhauled attack, lasted less than 15 minutes before he was forced off after appearing to pull his hamstring while chasing a long pass.

The striker’s exit was another blow for Maresca after Blues forward Cole Palmer was sidelined by a groin injury that will keep him out of England’s forthcoming World Cup qualifiers.

King thought he had broken the deadlock with his first professional goal in the 21st minute.

The 18-year-old forward had accelerated away from the Chelsea defence and slotted low past Robert Sanchez in composed fashion.

But, in the process of spinning away from Chalobah’s tackle on the halfway line to launch the attack, Muniz made contact with the Chelsea defender’s foot.

Chalobah crumpled to the turf but play initially continued, allowing King to score.

Told to consult the pitchside monitor to review the incident, referee Rob Jones disallowed the goal for a “careless challenge”.

Silva exploded at that explanation, berating the fourth official in a furious rant on the touchline.

Teenager Tyrique George, on for the injured Delap, almost made the breakthrough on the stroke of half-time with a close-range effort that Bernd Leno saved at his near post.

From the resulting corner, Chelsea took the lead in the ninth minute of what should have been eight minutes of stoppage-time.

Fernandez curled the set-piece towards Pedro and the Brazilian rose unchallenged to head home from close-range for his second goal this season.

Silva was seething again, this time over the costly additional seconds added on.

He tried in vain to confront Jones when the half-time whistle blew as Fulham’s fans chanted “1-0 to the referee”.

There was more VAR angst for Silva and Fulham in the 56th minute.

Sessegnon’s arm was away from his body when he blocked Chalobah’s cross in the area.

However, the penalty was only awarded after VAR ruled Pedro’s challenge on Joachim Anderson and a potential handball by the Brazilian in the build-up were not fouls.

Fernandez ignored the fuss to stroke home the spot-kick, leaving Silva fuming once more.

2026 World Cup: 12 teams qualify for Round of 16

Published

17 minutes ago

July 3, 2026

Admin

ADVERTISEMENT

Spain are the latest team to confirm their place in the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup.

The European champions thrashed Austria 3-0 in their Round of 32 clash on Thursday evening.

It was a display of complete dominance by Luis de la Fuente’s men, as they lived up to their pre-tournament billing as favourites.

Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring for Spain in the first half, before Pedro Porro doubled their advantage in the 66th minute.

Oyarzabal continued his fine scoring form with a second late on.

They will now face the winner of Portugal.

Other teams confirmed in the last 16 are: USA, England, Belgium, France, Brazil, Norway, Morocco, Paraguay, Canada and Mexico.

World Cup 2026: Spain cruise into last 16 with win over Austria

Published

29 minutes ago

July 3, 2026

Admin

ADVERTISEMENT

Spain coasted past Austria and into the World Cup last-16 on Thursday, thoroughly outclassing their opponents in a 3-0 knockout win with a brace from Mikel Oyarzabal and a Pedro Porro header.

The European champions controlled possession and sliced through the Austrian defense in a typically dominant performance in Los Angeles, as Hollywood stars Penelope Cruz, Javier Bardem and singer Rosalia cheered on.

The win — which could have been by a greater margin, with a disallowed goal and a free kick off the woodwork — sets up a tantalizing round-of-16 clash with either Portugal or Croatia.

The SoFi Stadium was a sea of red and excitement was sky-high over the first visit by a bona fide World Cup favorite to America’s second city.

Spain ratcheted up the pressure gradually through the first half, creating a string of chances after the first hydration break.

Marc Cucurella thought he had scored from a Lamine Yamal corner, but Pau Cubarsi was judged to have encroached on Austria’s goalkeeper.

Alexander Schlager then made a superb diving save, pushing Oyarzabal’s low shot around the post.

Austria’s defense finally buckled in the 36th minute. Pedri pinged a ball wide left to Cucurella, whose cross to Oyarzabal was calmly side-footed past the ‘keeper.

Spain’s dominance grew further, with Yamal tormenting the Austrians, mainly from the right flank.

An Alex Baena free kick hit the crossbar, and Yamal’s close-range follow-up shot was well saved.

Austria spurned a rare chance at the other end. Romano Schmid played in a late-arriving and unmarked Stefan Posch, but a terrible first touch meant he lost the ball before even attempting a shot.

‘Ole’

After the break Spain continued knocking on the door without quite putting the game to rest.

Austria sent on two giant strikers — Sasa Kalajdzic and Marko Arnautovic — and immediately went long, with Kalajdzic putting a header over the bar.

But in the 66th minute, Spain struck again. Baena lifted a cross onto the head of Pedro Porro, who nodded in his first goal for Spain.

Some dogged defending kept the scoreline respectable, including a goalline clearance by David Alaba from Yamal, who was substituted off to rest moments later.

Spain sprayed passes around the pitch as the final minutes ticked down, eliciting “Oles” from the crowd, as attention turned to a sterner test on Monday in Dallas.

In the 89th minute, a pinpoint Cucurella cross found a completely unmarked Oyarzabal in the penalty area, who slotted the ball home.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)