Although needing a stoppage-time goal to overcome Leedsover the weekend, City closed the gap to within five points of the leaders Arsenal. Pep Guardiola’s squad had the opportunity to apply pressure here and seized it immediately.

They nearly scored the opener within six minutes when Erling Haaland struck the post from a chance he would have expected to convert.

Nonetheless, the Norwegian forward made no mistake with his next chance, finishing Jeremy Doku’s low cross to net his 100th Premier League goal, becoming the quickest player to reach this milestone in just 111 matches.

Emile Smith Rowe posed the greatest threat for the hosts, forcing Gianluigi Donnarumma into a low save before shooting over the bar.

Haaland, however, became the assister as halftime neared, setting up Tijjani Reijnders who deftly chipped the ball over the advancing Bernd Leno.

Soon after, the visitors extended their lead to three thanks to Phil Foden’s magnificent strike from outside the penalty area.

While Fulham were taught a lesson in clinical finishing by their opponents in the first half, they kept their hopes alive by pulling a goal back before halftime through Smith Rowe’s smart header.

That hope seemed to vanish within 10 minutes after the break. Foden quickly scored his second goal, slotting home from a tight angle, followed by Doku’s shot which deflected off Sander Berge and slipped just under the crossbar. This was City’s fifth goal of the match—the first time they've scored five at Craven Cottage since 1927.

Fulham did respond with a goal when Alex Iwobi curled a superb low shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box, but initially struggled to build momentum, with City nearly scoring again when an unmarked Haaland’s header hit the post.

Fulham managed to ignite their comeback, and with less than 20 minutes left, they set up a thrilling finish as Samuel Chukwueze volleyed into the corner for his first goal for Fulham.

In a match full of drama, the Nigerian quickly scored a second for the Cottagers, delivering another precise finish into the corner after Donnarumma was caught off guard from a corner.

Encouraged by a stunned home crowd, Fulham pressed for an equalizer, but Josh King had a late chance blocked on the line as they ultimately failed to find the goal that would have completed one of the most remarkable comebacks in Premier League history.

Man City have now won four of their last five league matches, while this marks Fulham’s first defeat in three games and only their second home league loss of the season.

Flashscore Man of the Match: Samuel Chukwueze (Fulham)

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