Fulham took the lead in the 26th minute when Andreas Pereira finished expertly from close range, surprising the home side with a 1-0 advantage. Just prior, Ilkay Gundogan had squandered a prime opportunity to score, heading wide from a cross by Bernardo Silva.
City quickly responded, leveling the score in the 32nd minute through Kovacic, who took advantage of a deflection to slot the ball past Fulham's goalkeeper, Bernd Leno, making it 1-1.
Shortly after the break, Kovacic struck again with a brilliant shot from the edge of the area, finding the left corner of the net and giving City a 2-1 lead, much to the delight of the home fans.
City continued to assert their dominance, with Jeremy Doku scoring the third goal in the 82nd minute. He skillfully navigated through Fulham's defense before firing a shot into the roof of the net, extending the lead to 3-1.
Nevertheless, Fulham remained determined. In the 89th minute, Rodrigo Muniz reduced the deficit, calmly finishing Reiss Nelson's layoff into the left side of the goal. Despite the late excitement, City managed to hold on for a 3-2 victory.
The match highlighted City's offensive capabilities and Kovacic's increasing impact, while Fulham's tenacity ensured a thrilling encounter right up to the final whistle.