Enzo Fernandez settled an absorbing London derby.
Chelsea accomplished an excellent comeback for the second time within the house of 4 days as they overturned a two-goal deficit to beat relegation-threatened West Ham 3-2 in an exhilarating London derby.
Having seen his aspect come from 2-1 all the way down to beat Napoli 3-2 and safe a spot within the high eight of the Champions League desk, Liam Rosenior made seven modifications from the XI that started the sport on the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
That call regarded to have backfired as West Ham took a well-merited 2-0 lead by Jared Bowen and Crysencio Summerville.
But Rosenior’s half-time substitutes paid large dividends, with Wesley Fofana, Marc Cucurella and Joao Pedro, scorer of a decisive brace in Naples, all having a huge effect.
Pedro halved the deficit 12 minutes into the second half, earlier than Cucurella levelled issues 13 minutes later.
West Ham regarded to have at the least completed sufficient to safe some extent, however Enzo Fernandez struck within the 92nd minute to at the least quickly ship Chelsea into the Premier League top four.
There was chaos within the closing seconds as Jean-Clair Todibo was despatched off for West Ham after he grabbed Pedro by the throat amid an enormous melee. He’ll miss the subsequent three matches, with the Hammers nonetheless 5 factors adrift of security.
West Ham dominate first half
Sanchez was left red-faced as he allowed a seemingly innocuous in-swinging supply from Mark Noble to creep into the bottom-left nook and stun Stamford Bridge.
The Spaniard then made an unconvincing save to disclaim Taty Castellanos after he was performed in by Bowen, with West Ham persevering with to look harmful amid poor defending from the hosts.
Chelsea suffered a setback halfway by the primary half, with Jamie Gittens compelled off with an obvious foot damage and changed by Pedro Neto.
And the Blues’ frustration was furthered as they fell additional behind when Summerville completed off an excellent West Ham transfer.
Bowen collected a protracted ball ahead on the suitable flank and calmly performed in Aaron Wan-Bissaka down the channel, with the defender’s pull-back met by a rasping first-time end from Summerville that left Sanchez with no likelihood.
Chelsea modifications repay
Cucurella, Fofana and Pedro entered the fray rather than Benoit Badiashile, Alejandro Garnacho and Jorrel Hato.
Although West Ham started the second half brightly, with Sanchez compelled into saves to disclaim Mathus Fernandes and Bowen, the substitutions had the specified impression for the Blues.
After Liam Delap went shut, Pedro continued his wonderful latest type, rising on the far publish to show residence Fofana’s right-wing cross with a deft header.
Alphonse Areola produced an excellent save to maintain out a fierce long-range effort from Moises Caicedo, however there was nothing the Frenchman may do to stop Cucurella from equalising with a diving header.
Neto swung in a deep cross that Malo Gusto headed again throughout objective and, after Delap hit the crossbar, Cucurella was readily available to finish the comeback.
From that time, West Ham have been totally on a mission to make sure a share of the spoils, however they noticed an excellent alternative to retake the lead go begging when Jean-Clair Todibo struck the publish from point-blank vary.
The Hammers have been left to rue that miss as a sweeping Chelsea transfer settled an enthralling contest, Areola left with no likelihood as Fernandez turned residence from Gusto’s pull-back to ship a Stamford Bridge crowd that booed the hosts off at half-time into raptures.
There was but extra drama as Adama Traore flung Marc Cucurella to the bottom by the nook flag, prompting a fracas that noticed a number of potential pink card incidents, although solely Todibo was dismissed aftr a prolonged VAR examine.
That ending typified the battle each groups confirmed in a memorable sport. They are going to every have to proceed present the identical spirit, albeit with out the ill-discipline, of their respective battles at completely different ends of the desk.
