Chelsea forward Joao Pedro made Premier League history by scoring after just 31 seconds against Fulham at Craven Cottage on Monday.
The Brazil international gave Chelsea the lead in the opening round of the Premier League with a composed finish that immediately set a new record for the fastest goal scored in the competition’s opening weekend.
Joao Pedro’s goal came almost straight from kick-off. Cole Palmer found him with a through ball, allowing the Chelsea striker to move into the Fulham penalty area before lifting his finish over the goalkeeper and into the net.
The effort was notable not only for its timing but also for the way it was taken. Rather than attempting to overpower the goalkeeper, Joao Pedro showed composure inside the box and produced a delicate finish that carried the ball over the advancing Fulham goalkeeper.
According to Opta, the specialist football statistics provider, the goal was timed at 31 seconds. That made Joao Pedro the scorer of the fastest goal in the history of the opening round of the Premier League.
His finish therefore placed him in the competition’s record books and gave Chelsea an immediate advantage at Craven Cottage. The goal was also Chelsea’s first of the match, coming before a minute had elapsed.
The strike provided a historic start to Joao Pedro’s involvement in the fixture and was described as a landmark moment for the Chelsea forward. By scoring so early in the campaign’s opening round, he claimed a record specifically associated with the first set of Premier League matches.
Footage of the goal was circulated online, accompanied by a message describing it as a “fiery start” for Xabi Alonso’s team and highlighting that Joao Pedro had found the net from the first minute. The post also carried the hashtag for the Premier League.
The match was being played at Fulham’s Craven Cottage as part of the opening round of the Premier League. Joao Pedro’s finish came from Chelsea’s first major opportunity described in the report, with Palmer providing the decisive pass before the Brazilian completed the move.
The goal’s significance was confirmed by the Opta timing, which placed it at 31 seconds rather than simply recording it as an early opener. That distinction made it the fastest goal seen in the competition’s opening round.
Joao Pedro’s name was consequently added to the Premier League’s history books, while Chelsea began the match with a record-setting moment against their London opponents.
