It wasn’t such a good day at the office for Super Eagles duo Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey as they battled to their first defeat of the season when Fulham faced Chelsea on Saturday afternoon.

The English Premier League matchday three clash at Stamford Bridge saw the Blues punish Iwobi, Bassey, and their teammates with a 2-0 defeat, and VAR played a huge role in the outcome, Footballrover reports.

VAR Drama as Chelsea Deny Fulham’s Breakthrough

The first half finally wrapped up after 55 minutes with Joao Pedro’s last-gasp header giving the hosts a 1-0 lead over their visitors in highly contentious fashion.

The Blues started on the front foot, creating the bulk of the scoring chances early on through attempts from Joao Pedro and Delap.

The visitors then grew into the game, carving out more shots from Andersen and Iwobi, before Berge slipped King through on goal.

The youngster beat both Adarabioyo and Sanchez to seemingly put The Cottagers ahead, but VAR intervened to chalk it off after spotting a foul by Muniz in the buildup.

According to the Premier League match centre:

“Fulham’s number nine committed a careless challenge, stood on the Chelsea defender’s foot, therefore the goal was disallowed and play restarts with a free kick.”

That decision was little comfort for the away side, as the Blues struck right before the break.

After missed opportunities for Adarabioyo, Chalobah, and George, Joao Pedro rose highest from Enzo Fernández’s corner kick deep into stoppage time to nod the Blues ahead, setting up a fiery second half in the West London Derby.

Enzo Fernández Seals Victory for The Pensioners

Just 11 minutes after the restart, Enzo Fernández doubled the Blues’ lead from the penalty spot.

The captain calmly stepped up and drilled a low effort past Leno into the bottom-left corner, sending the Blues 2-0 ahead and leaving Marco Silva fuming on the sidelines.

The spot-kick was awarded after another lengthy VAR review, with officials ruling that Sessegnon had widened his body by lifting his arms while turning to block Chalobah’s shot.

That decision handed Enzo Maresca’s side the perfect opportunity to extend their advantage—and Enzo made no mistake.

After 84 minutes of action, Alex Iwobi made way for Adama Traore.

However, the game ended with The Whites leaving Stamford Bridge empty-handed, as the home team walked away with all three points and their second win of the season.

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Last Updated on August 30, 2025 3:16 pm by Sir Kris