Archive August 30, 2025

Fulham were left to rue a number of costly decisions that were made against them at Stamford Bridge on Saturday when Chelsea took advantage of the VAR controversy to defeat them 2-0.

In the west London derby, Enzo Maresca’s side were fortunate not to be let down by a harsh penalty for a first-half opener.

Rodrigo Muniz’s accidental collision with Trevoh Chalobah was ruled out by VAR, who determined Josh King’s strike to be unfavorable.

At the end of the first half, Joao Pedro extended Chelsea’s lead beyond the eight-minute mark of stoppage-time, as if that weren’t enough enraging for Fulham manager Marco Silva.

Chelsea’s second goal was also VAR-influenced, adding to Silva’s anger as a result of Ryan Sessegnon’s mistake led to Enzo Fernandez scoring from the penalty spot.

Chelsea’s third successive Premier League encounter with a London rival extended their unbeaten start to three games with a draw with Crystal Palace and a 5-1 victory over West Ham.

Alejandro Garnacho watched from the stands as the Argentine international completed his move from Manchester United to Chelsea’s training facility on Friday.

Nicolas Jackson is set to join Chelsea on loan, while Christopher Nkunku signed for AC Milan on Saturday, and Garnacho is set to make his debut.

Before being forced to leave after appearing to pull his hamstring while chasing a long pass, Liam Delap, who was in charge of Chelsea’s overhauled attack, had less than 15 minutes to play.

After Blues forward Cole Palmer was sidelined by a groin injury that will prevent him from participating in England’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers, the striker’s exit was yet another blow for Maresca.

King believed that his first professional goal in the 21st minute had broken the deadlock.

Read more about AC Milan signing France forward Nkunku from Chelsea.

Silva seethes, andnbsp

The 18-year-old forward had accelerated and slammed low past Robert Sanchez in a composed manner away from Chelsea’s defense.

However, Muniz made contact with the Chelsea defender’s foot as he spun away from Chalobah’s tackle on the halfway line to start the attack.

King scored as Chalobah scuffed to the ground before play continued.

Referee Rob Jones disallowed the goal for a “careless challenge,” telling the pitchside monitor to review the incident.

Silva blasted the fourth official in a furious rant on the touchline after that explanation.

On the stroke of half-time, Tyrique George, who was substituted for Delap, almost made it with a close-range save from Bernd Leno at his near post.

Chelsea opened the scoring from the corner that should have lasted eight minutes before stoppage-time.

Fernandez curled the set-piece in front of Pedro, who unchallengedly fired home from close range for his second goal of the season.

Silva was enthralled once more by the pricey extra seconds that had been added.

When Fulham’s fans chanted “1-0 to the referee” during the half-time whistle, he made no attempt to confront Jones.

Silva and Fulham both expressed more VAR angst in the 56th minute.

When Sessegnon blocked Chalobah’s cross in the area, his arm was far away from his body.

However, the penalty was only given after VAR determined that Pedro’s challenge on Joachim Anderson and a potential handball by the Brazilian in the build-up were unfees.

Silva was left fuming once more as Fernandez ignored the noise and fired home the spot-kick.

As Aryna Sabalenka avenged the loss to the top 16 by moving closer to a semi-final showdown with Novak Djokovic and Carlo Alcaraz on Friday.

Alcaraz, the second seed from Spain, and Djokovic, the legend of Serbia, both won comfortably to advance to the last 16 and are only one point away from meeting in the last four.

Luciano Darderi, the 32nd seeded by Italy, won 6-2, 6-4, 6-0 at Arthur Ashe Stadium, while Djokovic, who is aiming for a record 25th Grand Slam singles title, defeated Cam Norrie 6-4, 6-7 (4 / 7), 6-2, 6-3.

The 2022 US Open champion will face Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech, who defeated compatriot Benjamin Bonzi 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 in a match played on Sunday after Alcaraz’ one hour, 44-minute victory.

Alcaraz said he had no injuries and needed a medical timeout while leading 5-4 in the second set for right knee treatment.

READ MORE: &nbsp, Rybakina Routs Raducanu To Win The US Open.

Milestone for Djokovic

In addition, Djokovic, 38, excelled in his evening victory over Norrie, which places him in a fourth-round matchup with German veteran Jan-Lennard Struff.

After becoming the oldest man to reach the US Open last 16 since Jimmy Connors in 1991, Djokovic said, “Coming into any match you really want to win in straight sets without any drama.”

He continued, “It’s good that I get tested.” “I’m still trying to find my groove and rhythm on the court.”

With a 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (9/7) defeat of popular 17th seed Frances Tiafoe, Djokovic’s fourth-round opponent Struff severely damaged American hopes of becoming the first home US Open champion since 2003.

To be honest with you, Tiafoe said, “I don’t know how to recover from this.” “I haven’t been this down in a very, very long time,” said one participant.

Tiafoe’s departure came after another disappointing loss for American fans, when big-serving American fans forced to cry after the fourth set of their match against Frenchman Adrian Mannarino.

Shelton, 22, was 6-3, 3-6, and 6-4 when he started to feel shoulder pain. After Mannarino won the fourth set, he continued but threw the towel.

Shelton was depressed, telling him, “I’m not a guy who would retire if I could go on.”

With Shelton and Tiafoe leaving, Taylor Fritz, who had previously defeated Taylor Fritz in the US Open, was left to win the tournament in an evening victory over Swiss qualifier Jerome Kym, 7-6 (7/3), 6-7 (9/11), 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.

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Sabalenka Revenge 

In the women’s draw, Sabalenka, the reigning champion of the 2021 US Open, won Armstrong straight sets to avenge her semi-final defeat to Leylah Fernandez.

After being upset by the unheralded Fernandez four years ago, Sabalenka was left devastated and enraged to receive a place in her first Grand Slam final there.

However, the Belarusian 27-year-old made sure there was no repeat on Friday, defeating Fernandez 6-3, 7-6 (7/2). With her remarkable winning streak in tie-breaks extended to 18, Sabalenka’s victory.

Sabalenka later said, “I wanted this vengeance badly.” It taught me a difficult lesson in the past, I recall.

I merely wanted to show to myself that I had learned the lesson, that I had improved, and that I could win.

In the following round, Sabalenka takes on Spaniard Cristina Bucsa, who is unseeded. Elise Mertens, Belgium’s 19th seed, defeated Bucsa in an upset 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 decision on Friday.

With Taylor Townsend edging out Russian fifth seed Mirra Andreeva 7-5, 6-2, Arthur Ashe suffered yet another upset in the dying moments.

Elena Rybakina, the ninth seed in Kazakh, defeated British international Emma Raducanu 6-1, 6-2 to advance to a last-four tie with 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova, who defeated Italian seventh seed Jasmine Paolini 7-6 (7-4) 6-1.

American fourth-seeded Jessica Pegula defeated compatriot Ann Li 6-1, 7-5, in other women’s draw games.