Chelsea clinched their second league win of the season by defeating Fulham with goals from Mykhailo Mudryk and Armando Broja. Mudryk, who has had an inconsistent stint at Stamford

Bridge since his £89 million move from Shakhtar Donetsk in January, delivered an impressive first-half performance. He opened the scoring in the 18th minute after skillfully controlling Levi Colwill's chipped cross with his chest and finishing past Bernd Leno.

Broja extended Chelsea's lead just a minute later, scoring his first goal since October 2022 following a severe knee injury. This victory elevated Chelsea to 11th place in the Premier League.

Fulham struggled to create scoring opportunities, with their best chance coming from Sasa Lukic in the second half. However, Lukic's shot from inside the six-yard box was expertly saved by Robert Sanchez.

Mudryk was substituted at halftime due to a quad injury, but manager Mauricio Pochettino expressed optimism that the winger would recover in time for the match against Burnley on Saturday.

Mudryk's performance in this match marked his third consecutive start, and he appeared to benefit from regular playing time. Pochettino had emphasized the importance of boosting Mudryk's confidence and had been engaging in training sessions, including the 'crossbar challenge,' to help achieve this. Mudryk's assertiveness and clinical finish in this game reflected improved confidence.

Pochettino commented on Mudryk's performance, stating, "Misha [Mudryk] played because he's showing in the training sessions that he deserved to be. He was really focused, and his performances in training provided us the confidence to put him on the pitch. I'm pleased for Misha and for Armando."

Chelsea, grappling with numerous first-team injuries and suspensions, dominated the first half, with Cole Palmer making a strong impression on his first league start since joining from Manchester City. Broja's goal, capitalizing on hesitant Fulham defending, secured the win for Chelsea.

Fulham's Raul Jimenez had a chance to score at the end of the first half, but his header from a corner missed the target. Ian Maatsen, who replaced Mudryk at halftime, struck the Fulham post in the second half as Chelsea sought a third goal.

Despite a late opportunity for Lukic, Chelsea comfortably maintained their lead in the final 15 minutes. Photo by Russell Trebor, Wikimedia commons.