Chelsea end winless EPL drought

LONDON, England (AP):

Chelsea's wait for another English Premier League (EPL) win ended yesterday with a 2-0 victory at Fulham.

Two goals in a minute in the first half from Mykhailo Mudryk and Armando Broja secured the points for Mauricio Pochettino's struggling team at Craven Cottage and moved them up to 11th in the standings.

It was Chelsea's first win in the league since August 25 and only their second in the top flight all season.

"It was a decent performance, maybe not as good as we would like, but the most important thing was three points, and we desperately needed that," said Chelsea captain Conor Gallagher.

Mudryk, a US$108 million signing last season, fired Chelsea in front in the 18th minute after controlling Levi Colwill's ball and finishing past Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno.

Broja doubled the lead a minute later, with summer signing from Manchester City, Cole Palmer, seizing on a mistake and providing the assist.

"It's important for us to build our confidence and trust in ourselves," Pochettino said. "I'm so happy for the players, and in the end, we got what we deserved."

The victory should give Pochettino something to build on after such a troubled start to the season and comes after they beat Brighton in the English League Cup last week.

It has not been easy for the Argentine, who was hired at the end of last season and charged with returning Chelsea to their glory days.

His appointment might have lifted the mood around the club after their worst-ever EPL season last term, but there has been no instant uplift in form, with Chelsea going into yesterday's game in 15th place.

Their one win in the league had come against newly promoted Luton and their only other victories had been in the League Cup.

That is despite owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital spending big in the transfer market again in the off-season.

But Chelsea looked certain to ensure their first away win of the season after scoring two goals in quick succession in the first half.

After the break, substitute Ian Maatsen was close to adding a third when his side-footed effort ricocheted back off the post. Enzo Fernandez tried to convert the rebound, but his shot was blocked by Leno.