JOAO Felix had a lively Chelsea debut tonight but it was cut short by a red card for dangerous play as his new club slumped to a 2-1 Premier League defeat at Fulham.
The Portugal forward joined Chelsea on loan from Atletico Madrid on Tuesday and was handed a start as the Blues sought to get back to winning ways following two back-to-back losses to Manchester City.
He was his side’s best player before his dismissal, impressing with his dribbling and clever movement, and having more shots at goal than any player from both sides.
However, he undid all the good work with a lunging, studs-up challenge in the 58th minute that changed the complexion of the game.
Felix became the first player ever to be sent off for Chelsea on his Premier League debut, and the first to do so for any club since Federico Fazio for Tottenham versus Manchester City in October 2014.
Fulham had taken a well-deserved lead in the 25th minute through former Chelsea player Willian’s deflected shot from inside the box.
The struggling visitors raised their game after the break and got the equaliser just two minutes into the second half, Kalidou Koulibaly turning the ball in after Mason Mount’s free-kick hit the post.
Fulham then took full advantage of their numerical superiority when Carlos Vinicius headed home Andreas Pereira’s delightful cross in the 75th minute.
Fulham have now beaten Chelsea in the league for the first time since March 2006 as the promoted side moved up to sixth spot in the table.
It is also their fourth straight Premier League win — a feat they last achieved in 1966.
In contrast, Chelsea under the embattled Graham Potter have now lost six of their last eight matches in all competitions, their most defeats over any eight-game period since December 1993, and they are 10th in the table.
