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Recap

Late Raul Jiménez Header Secures Fulham Victory as West Ham Fall to 0-1 Defeat

  • Fulham edged a tight London derby at the London Stadium with a late Raul Jiménez header to beat West Ham United 1-0, a defeat that compounds West Ham’s home struggles and hands Marco Silva’s side a valuable away win.

Match summary and key moment

  • The decisive moment arrived deep into the second half when Harry Wilson delivered a cross that Raul Jiménez met with a header to score the match’s only goal, sealing a 1-0 Fulham victory.
  • The finish came late in the game and was described as a “dagger blow” for West Ham, giving Fulham a win that extended their momentum on the road and left the Hammers in a difficult place in front of their home supporters.

First half: Cautious, few clear openings

  • The opening 45 minutes were cagey, with both teams probing but failing to produce a clear breakthrough; goalkeeping action and close-range saves featured in the highlights rather than clinical finishing.
  • Fulham created a number of moments from set pieces and wide deliveries — patterns which ultimately led to the winning goal — while West Ham had sporadic chances but were unable to convert pressure into a goal in the first half.

Second half: Growing urgency, late resolution

  • West Ham increased their urgency as the match progressed, seeking a winner at home, but their efforts were frustrated by resolute Fulham defending and goalkeeping interventions.
  • Fulham’s attacking work — particularly combinations that involved Harry Wilson — created openings and culminated in the late cross that Raul Jiménez finished, a moment of quality that decided the contest.

Key performers

  • Raul Jiménez — The match-winner: Jiménez’s late header proved the crucial contribution, demonstrating his aerial threat and finishing instincts at the decisive moment.
  • Harry Wilson — Creator: Wilson’s delivery for the winning goal underlined his influence in Fulham’s attacking play and his ability to supply dangerous balls from the flank.
  • Fulham defence and goalkeeper — Compact and disciplined: Fulham’s defensive unit and their goalkeeper were effective in containing West Ham’s chances over 90 minutes, preserving the slender advantage earned late on.
  • West Ham attackers — Wasteful in and around the box: West Ham created opportunities but were unable to convert them; commentators and reports highlighted their wastefulness and lack of clinical finishing as pivotal to the home side’s defeat.

Tactical notes

  • Fulham set-piece and wide delivery effectiveness — Fulham’s route to the goal came from a wide service and aerial finish, reflecting a tactical emphasis on exploiting crosses and set-piece situations late in the game.
  • West Ham’s struggle to break down a compact defence — Despite periods of possession and pressure, West Ham found it difficult to carve out clear-cut chances and were punished by a single moment of quality from the visitors.

Context and consequences

  • The result was another damaging home defeat for West Ham, who were described as being in “real trouble” after losing at the London Stadium and suffering continued poor home form.
  • For Fulham, the victory marked a successful away performance and contributed to a positive run on the road, with Jiménez’s late intervention providing three valuable points for Marco Silva’s side.

Notable quotes and atmosphere

  • Broadcaster and highlight reports captured the late goal as a decisive and emotional moment for the away supporters while deepening the frustration among the West Ham faithful at the stadium.
  • Match coverage described Fulham’s winner as a “dagger blow” to West Ham’s hopes in the match, reflecting the dramatic swing of feeling when a single late goal settles a tight derby.

Match statistics and timeline (high-level)

  • Final score: West Ham United 0–1 Fulham; goal: Raul Jiménez (late header) following a Harry Wilson delivery.
  • Key phases: A cautious first half with limited clear chances; increased tempo in the second half, culminating in a late decisive cross and header that produced the only goal of the game.

Reporter’s analysis

  • Fulham executed a compact, pragmatic away performance and relied on set-piece and crossing situations to unlock West Ham late on; the visitors’ ability to stay disciplined and strike at the end was the defining difference.
  • West Ham will be disappointed by the lack of cutting edge in attack and by conceding from a late wide delivery; the result highlights issues in converting territory and possession into goals at home, which have deeper implications for their season if not addressed.
  • Individually, Jiménez’s experience and aerial threat were decisive, while Wilson’s creativity once again proved valuable for Fulham — two clear individual contributions that determined a finely balanced London derby.

How the key moment unfolded

  • Late in the match, Harry Wilson found space to deliver a cross into West Ham’s penalty area; Raul Jiménez rose to meet the ball and headed it past the goalkeeper to give Fulham the lead and ultimately the win.
  • The finish capped a sequence of Fulham pressure from wide areas and set-piece situations that West Ham could not fully repel, and it answered West Ham’s second-half endeavour with a decisive moment of execution from the visitors.

Implications moving forward

  • Fulham’s away victory provides momentum and confidence for Marco Silva’s side as they continue their campaign, particularly boosting belief in their ability to grind out narrow wins on the road.
  • West Ham must address their finishing and ability to break down compact defences at home: the club’s supporters and coaching staff will be concerned about recurring home defeats and the broader impact on league position and morale.
  • Both teams will take lessons from the tactical battle: Fulham for their efficient use of wide delivery and aerial presence late in the game, West Ham for the need to sharpen attacking transitions and composure in the final third.

Details

Date Time League Season Full Time
December 27, 2025 11:00 pm Premier League 2025 90'

Ground

London Stadium
London Stadium, Marathon Ramp, Stratford, London Borough of Newham, London, Greater London, England, E20 2ST, United Kingdom

Results

Club1st Half2nd HalfGoals
West Ham United F.C.000
Fulham011