By Gus "Walk-Off" Fields
Thirty-one seconds. That's how long it took Chelsea to put Fulham to the sword at the start of this west London derby, and it set the tone for a match that never really settled down after that.
Joao Pedro, Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer all found the net as Chelsea opened up a commanding lead early, according to Al Jazeera's report on the match, before Fulham clawed their way back into contention in a game that finished 3-2. The fast start gave Chelsea the cushion they needed to survive a spirited Fulham response, one that turned a comfortable afternoon into a nervy finish.
There's something to be said for a team that can score inside a minute and still make you sweat for the other 89. It speaks to where both clubs are right now — Chelsea with the talent to blow a match open, Fulham with the stubbornness not to let it stay that way. Palmer, so often the difference-maker for Chelsea this season, got on the scoresheet again, a reminder of why he's become the focal point of their attack.
For Fulham, the defeat stings less than it might have. Coming back from three goals down to make it a two-goal margin, in a London derby no less, is the kind of fight that keeps a fanbase believing even in a loss. For Chelsea, three points is three points — however uncomfortable the final twenty minutes felt from the touchline.
Final score's the last thing that mattered here.
— Compiled from reporting by Al Jazeera.
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