Joao Pedro ends Chelsea's No9 curse 31 seconds into debut season

Joao Pedro needed 31 seconds to score Chelsea's first Premier League goal of the season, chipping Fulham's Bernd Leno at Craven Cottage after Cole Palmer's first-time pass. The goal, Chelsea's first under manager Xabi Alonso, ended the club's long-running No9 curse, per The Sun. Joao Pedro joined from Brighton in July 2025.