Manchester City survived a furious late fightback from Fulham as Nigerian duo Samuel Chukwueze and Alex Iwobi lit up Craven Cottage in an extraordinary 5-4 Premier League contest.
City, who needed a stoppage-time winner to beat Leeds at the weekend, moved within five points of leaders Arsenal after extending their dominant run in this fixture to 19 straight head-to-head victories.
Pep Guardiola’s side began sharply and almost opened the scoring inside six minutes when Erling Haaland struck the post from close range. The Norwegian made no mistake moments later, guiding in Jeremy Doku’s low cross for his 100th Premier League goal, reaching the mark in just 111 games.
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Fulham’s best early moments came through Emile Smith Rowe, who forced Gianluigi Donnarumma into a low stop before sending another effort over the bar.
City doubled their lead just before the break. Haaland turned provider, releasing Tijjani Reijnders, who lifted a composed finish over Bernd Leno. The visitors soon made it three when Phil Foden curled a fine strike from outside the box.
Fulham, however, found a lifeline as Smith Rowe headed in moments before half-time.
City reasserted control shortly after the restart when Foden added his second from a tight angle. Fulham’s task worsened when Doku’s effort deflected off Sander Berge and looped in under the crossbar for City’s fifth, their first five-goal haul at Craven Cottage since 1927.
Fulham reduced the deficit when Alex Iwobi curled a precise low shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box. City remained dangerous, with Haaland heading against the post while unmarked, but Fulham began to grow in confidence.
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Samuel Chukwueze ignited the stadium with just under 20 minutes to play, the winger met a loose ball with a sharply-struck volley into the corner for his first Fulham goal. Minutes later, he punished a scramble from a corner, driving in his second to send the home crowd into disbelief.
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Roared on by a surging atmosphere, Fulham pushed for an equaliser in the closing stages. Substitute Josh King came closest, but his late effort was cleared off the line as Fulham ran out of time.
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City have now won four of their last five league matches, while the defeat ends Fulham’s run of two games unbeaten at home.
