Pedro Neto scored in stoppage time as Chelsea rallied to defeat Fulham, their rivals, 2-1 at Craven Cottage on Sunday, igniting their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League the next season.

With 57 points, Chelsea is now tied with Nottingham Forest, who will play Tottenham Hotspur on Monday, for fifth place in the Premier League rankings.

With 48 points, Fulham was still in ninth place. Andreas Pereira’s goal in the third minute gave Fulham the impression that they had grabbed the lead, but the attempt was disallowed for offside.

The visitors’ strikers failed to convert Chelsea’s strong response and a few opportunities they created as their outside players sent in risky crosses.

After 20 minutes, Chelsea captain Reece James gave up possession cheaply to Ryan Sessegnon, who then squared for Alex Iwobi to shoot a low effort from the edge of the box into the bottom corner to give the home team the lead.

At halftime, Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca substituted Malo Gusto and Jadon Sancho, and the adjustments were immediately noticeable.

Gusto tested Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno from a distance, while Sancho looked energetic on the left wing.

The visitors pushed and puffed for much of the second half without much success as Fulham’s solid defence blunted their offensive edge.

Pedro Neto and Sancho both forced more saves from Leno.

But just when it appeared that Fulham would defeat Chelsea in the league for the first time, substitute Tyrique George scored his first goal with an instinctive effort in the 83rd minute.

The equaliser gave Chelsea a boost, and they kept pushing forward until winger Neto turned and scored a booming goal ten minutes later to wild applause from the away supporters.

The result snapped Chelsea’s eight-game losing streak away from home.

The team’s most recent away Premier League victory came against Tottenham Hotspur in early December.