Pedro Neto may have just scored Chelsea’s most important goal of the season so far, and it was a beauty.
Chelsea found themselves 1-0 down against west London rivals Fulham at Craven Cottage until substitute Tyrique George netted an equaliser in the 83rd minute.
With the race for Champions League qualification so tight, the Blues really needed all three points. And thanks to Neto, they were able to get that after the winger popped up in stoppage time with an excellent strike.
Levi Colwill also deserves some credit for the win, with the defender telling his teammates that they needed to increase their intensity in the second half, but Neto will understandably grab all of the headlines.
Bernd Leno save inspired Pedro Neto’s winner for Chelsea
Before his goal against Fulham, Neto failed to convert a very good opportunity, with Bernd Leno managing to make a save.
The Portuguese made no mistake second time around, though. Frustrated with that previous effort, he decided to put plenty of power into his winning shot, which Leno had no chance of stopping.
“When I received the ball, I just span around and shot as hard as I can. The ball went in,” Neto was quoted as saying by BBC Sport after the game.
“The first one, Leno did an unbelievable save and I was so frustrated that the second one I had to put all the power into the shot.”
That strike was only the 25-year-old’s fourth Premier League goal of the season, but what an important one it was.
In January, Enzo Maresca sent a message to Neto and Jadon Sancho, telling them that they needed to score more.
Chelsea supporters will now be hoping that the former Wolverhampton Wanderers star can build on this, with it really being crunch time now for the team.
Pedro Neto on Chelsea fans
Neto understands why Chelsea fans have been frustrated of late. A lot of that frustration has been directed at Maresca, with the Stamford Bridge faithful not always happy with his style of football.
However, Neto has made it clear that the team need the supporters onside and that they make a difference.
“The fans don’t have the notion of the part they do for the club,” the Portugal international said. “Today at the end is what we need from them. They play a big part for the team. On the pitch, we understand that sometimes they are upset with us. But with them we are stronger.”
Next up for Neto and Co is a home tie against Everton, which is another must-win game in the race for Champions League qualification.
Receive a digest of our best Chelsea content each week direct to your mailbox
