Fulham 1 - 0 FT Sunderland

Chukwueze's 84th-Minute Reprieve: When One Assist Redeems an Entire Siege

Skip It Futmetrix Score: 37/100. A one-sided assault that lacked any semblance of entertainment until the final whistle, when substitute brilliance finally converted dominance into points.

The Assault That Took 84 Minutes to Land

Fulham arrived at Craven Cottage with a mission: bury a struggling Sunderland side clinging to seventh place. What followed was textbook Intensity without payoff—a relentless barrage that bordered on suffocation. Twenty-four shots to four. Seven on target to two. Eleven corners. Fulham didn't just dominate possession at 57%; they turned the match into an attacking siege, a one-sided affair where Sunderland existed merely to absorb punishment.

Yet for 84 minutes, this dominance felt hollow. Sunderland's goalkeeper made four crucial saves. The expected goals told the story: Fulham generated 2.08 xG; Sunderland managed 0.17. This wasn't a contest—it was a shooting gallery where the marksmen kept missing.

Balance never materialized. The scoreline remained locked at 0-0 as the clock ticked toward inevitable frustration. Fulham's Stakes mounted with each passing minute: 15th place, languishing on 14 points, desperately needing this win to arrest their slide. Sunderland, sitting comfortably in seventh, could afford to weather the storm. They did.

When Substitutes Change Destinies

Enter Samuel Chukwueze at the 64th minute, a name that would define this match's redemption arc. The forward, brought on to inject pace and creativity, provided exactly that. In the 84th minute, with Fulham's collective will nearly shattered, Chukwueze delivered a pinpoint assist to R. Jimenez, who converted with clinical precision. One moment. One assist. One goal. That's all it took to transform a narrative of futility into a narrow victory.

Chukwueze's performance (8.3 rating, four key passes) exemplified the super sub archetype—limited minutes, maximum impact. Joachim Andersen and Sander Berge anchored Fulham's defensive stability (7.6 ratings each), but it was the attacking substitute who broke the deadlock when it mattered most.

Six yellow cards (three per side) added a layer of Intensity to an otherwise tepid affair. The match lacked the dramatic crescendos—no red cards, no VAR controversies, no comebacks. Just relentless pressure, finally converted in the dying stages.

Fulham Aim to Dethrone the Top Four Upstarts

Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 64/100. This clash pits a mid-table side seeking consistency against a Sunderland team punching well above their weight in the Champions League places.

The Setup

Despite Sunderland occupying a lofty fourth place in the table, the Balance of probability actually tilts toward the hosts. Fulham have endured a rollercoaster of a season, but their home record remains a formidable barrier for any visitor. With the Stakes rising as we approach the busy festive period, the Cottagers need to convert their Form—which has seen two wins in their last three—into a definitive statement of intent against the league's surprise package.

Key Battle

The outcome hinges on the duel between Ryan Sessegnon and Granit Xhaka. Sessegnon’s explosive pace and willingness to drive into the box will provide a stern test for Xhaka’s defensive discipline. If Xhaka can orchestrate the tempo and shield his backline, Sunderland can frustrate the home crowd; if Sessegnon finds space behind the midfield pivot, the Black Cats will be on the back foot all afternoon.

Our Prediction

Expect a typical Premier League crunch match where possession is hard-earned. Sunderland will likely rely on the heroics of Robin Roefs, who has been in inspired form between the sticks, to weather an early storm. However, Fulham’s home intensity usually prevails in these tight encounters. We foresee the Cottagers absorbing Sunderland’s counter-attacking threat before striking late to secure a 2-1 victory.