# Chelsea Beat Fulham 3-2 to Secure Three Points in Xabi Alonso’s First Match
Chelsea defeated Fulham 3-2 in the opening match of the 2026-27 Premier League season at Craven Cottage on August 24, 2026. It was Xabi Alonso’s first competitive match since becoming Chelsea men’s team manager on July 1, 2026, and marked his first Premier League win with the club.
A Match Defined by Five Goals
Chelsea took the lead with João Pedro’s goal within the first minute of the match. However, Fulham’s Josh King equalized in the 23rd minute, bringing the game level again.
In the 41st minute, Morgan Rogers scored on his Chelsea debut. Chelsea went into halftime with a 2-1 lead and extended the gap with another goal early in the second half.
Chelsea’s opening goal came within the first minute, while the third Chelsea goal that proved decisive arrived in the 49th minute.
Cole Palmer scored Chelsea’s third goal in the 49th minute. Palmer also assisted João Pedro’s opener, contributing to the result with both a goal and an assist.
Fulham pulled back to within one goal when Gonzalo García scored in the 54th minute. Chelsea then held on to its 3-2 lead without conceding again.
The Role of Each Scorer
- João Pedro: Chelsea’s opening goal within the first minute
- Josh King: Fulham’s equalizer in the 23rd minute
- Morgan Rogers: Chelsea debut goal in the 41st minute
- Cole Palmer: Chelsea’s third goal in the 49th minute and assist for João Pedro’s opener
- Gonzalo García: Fulham’s goal in the 54th minute
Gonzalo García is listed in official match records as a Fulham scorer, not a Chelsea scorer. The original monitoring term “Habi Alonso” is standardized here as Xabi Alonso, the name used in official club materials.
What Alonso’s First Win Means
The result gave Chelsea its first Premier League win and first points of the season under Xabi Alonso. Chelsea scored three goals, but Fulham also scored twice and continued to chase the match at a one-goal margin until the end. The key takeaway is therefore not an overwhelming victory, but that Chelsea protected its lead without conceding again.
The official highlights are available in the [Chelsea Football Club official YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7g4Gh3SVAeo). When reviewing the match, follow the sequence of João Pedro’s early opener, Rogers’ debut goal, Palmer’s third goal, and Fulham’s two comeback goals.
Sources and Verification Time
- [Chelsea FC match report: Match report: Fulham 2-3 Chelsea](https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/match-report-fulham-chelsea-aug-26) — Checked August 28, 2026
- [Premier League fixture amendments announcement](https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/4678381/fixture-amendments-for-premier-league-matches-in-august-and-september/) — Checked August 28, 2026
- [Chelsea FC match preview](https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/fulham-vs-chelsea-all-you-need-to-know-august-2026) — Checked August 28, 2026
- [Sky Sports match records](https://www.skysports.com/football/fulham-vs-chelsea/559453) — Checked August 28, 2026
- [Chelsea FC announcement of Xabi Alonso’s appointment as manager](https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/xabi-alonso-appointed-chelsea-manager) — Checked August 28, 2026