Manchester City's Erling Haaland during the English Premier League match at Fulham in London, England, December 2, 2025. /VCG
Manchester City's Erling Haaland during the English Premier League match at Fulham in London, England, December 2, 2025. /VCG
Manchester City survived a remarkable comeback attempt from Fulham to win 5-4 away at Craven Cottage, with Erling Haaland becoming the fastest player to reach 100 English Premier League goals. The victory brought City within two points of league leaders Arsenal.
Haaland opened the scoring in the 17th minute to reach his century, achieving the feat in just 111 games. The 25-year-old Norwegian broke Alan Shearer's 1995 record by 13 games.
City doubled their lead 20 minutes later when Haaland assisted Tijjani Reijnders, who lifted a finish over goalkeeper Bernd Leno.
Phil Foden added a third goal two minutes before halftime. The England midfielder controlled a clearance from Leno on the edge of the box and fired a powerful shot into the top corner.
Fulham pulled one back in first-half stoppage time, as Emile Smith Rowe scored with a well-placed header from Harry Wilson's cross, making it 3-1.
Three minutes into the second half, Haaland directed another cross from Jeremy Doku to Foden, who finished clinically at the far post for his fourth goal in two matches.
City made it 5-1 six minutes later when Doku's shot deflected off Sander Berge's knee and looped over Leno.
Fulham responded in the 57th minute through Alex Iwobi, who beat goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Substitute Samuel Chukwueze then scored his first goals for Fulham, netting twice within six minutes. His second goal stunned Donnarumma and made it 5-4 with 12 minutes remaining.
Marco Silva's side continued to push forward relentlessly. Just as substitute Josh King appeared to have equalized for an improbable point, Josko Gvardiol cleared his shot off the line.
The 5-4 victory took City to 28 points, two behind leaders Arsenal.