Manchester City’s Erling Haaland etched his name in Premier League history books on Tuesday night, becoming the fastest player to reach 100 goals while spearheading his team’s dramatic 5-4 victory over a resilient Fulham side. The Norwegian striker achieved the milestone in just 111 appearances, surpassing Alan Shearer’s previous record by 13 games with a blistering 17th-minute strike from Jeremy Doku’s cross.
The match at Craven Cottage transformed from a potential rout into a breathtaking spectacle as City established a commanding 5-1 lead before Fulham mounted an extraordinary second-half comeback. Phil Foden contributed a brace for the visitors, while Tijjani Reijnders also found the net alongside an unfortunate own goal from Fulham’s Sander Berge.
Fulham’s remarkable resurgence featured a brace from Samuel Chukwueze and a goal from Alex Iwobi, creating a frenetic finale that left both managers acknowledging the game’s entertainment value despite defensive concerns. The victory keeps Manchester City firmly in title contention with 28 points, trailing leaders Arsenal by two points.
Post-match reactions revealed mixed emotions from both camps. Haaland acknowledged the spectacle for neutral viewers while admitting defensive vulnerabilities, stating: ‘It was a crazy game, nine goals is a lot. In the end, we win and we’re happy but it’s not the best win.’ Manager Pep Guardiola confessed to watching his watch more than the game during the tense closing stages, though he praised both teams’ attacking mentality.
The result extends City’s dominant record against Fulham to 19 consecutive victories across all competitions since 2012—the longest such winning streak in English football history. Fulham manager Marco Silva expressed immense pride in his team’s character, highlighting their refusal to capitulate against elite opposition despite the heavy deficit.