On this Saturday, the 24th matchday of the Premier League unfolded with an exciting showdown, where Chelsea edged past West Ham United 3-2. The Blues found themselves in a challenging position, having fallen behind to goals from Jarrod Bowen in the 6th minute and Crysencio Summerville in the 35th minute. However, Chelsea turned the tables and celebrated victory thanks to the goals from João Pedro (56’) and Marc Cucurella (69’), as well as a dramatic goal from Enzo Fernández (91’).
A standout moment of the match was João Pedro’s header that found the back of the net after an assist from Wesley Fofana, restoring hope for Chelsea early in the second half.
West Ham United nearly regained the lead in the closing stages when Jean-Clair Todibo struck the post with a powerful shot in the 85th minute, leaving the away team lamenting what could have been.
Enzo Fernández proved to be the key player of the match, scoring once and executing 71 accurate passes, alongside two crucial interceptions and three shots on target.
Another highlight was Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s solid defensive performance for West Ham, as he made two recoveries and cleared eight dangerous balls.
Chelsea’s coach Liam Rosenior set his team up in a 4-5-1 formation with Robert Sánchez in goal, while Malo Gusto, Trevoh Chalobah, Benoit Badiashile, and Jorrel Hato formed the defensive line. The midfield comprised Enzo Fernández, Moisés Caicedo, Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, Cole Palmer, and Alejandro Garnacho, with Liam Delap leading the attack.
On the other hand, Nuno Espírito Santo’s West Ham opted for a similar 4-5-1 setup, placing Alphonse Areola in goal and fielding Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Jean-Clair Todibo, and El Hadji Malick Diouf in defense. The midfield featured Tomás Soucek, Mateus Fernandes, Jarrod Bowen, Pablo Felipe, and Crysencio Summerville, while Valentín Castellanos spearheaded the attack.
The match, officiated by referee Anthony Taylor, was a testament to competitive spirit as Chelsea prepares for their upcoming clash against Wolverhampton, while West Ham faces Burnley at Turf Moor. Currently, Chelsea sits in fourth place with 40 points, and West Ham is struggling near the bottom of the table with only 20 points, occupying the eighteenth spot.
Substitutions for Chelsea
25’ 1st Half – Jamie Bynoe-Gittens off for Pedro Neto
45’ 2nd Half – Alejandro Garnacho off for João Pedro, Jorrel Hato off for Marc Cucurella, Benoit Badiashile off for Wesley Fofana
80’ 2nd Half – Malo Gusto off for Reece James
Bookings for Chelsea:
39’ 2nd Half – Moisés Caicedo (Unsporting behavior)
47’ 2nd Half – Enzo Fernández (Removing shirt)
51’ 2nd Half – João Pedro (Arguing with an opponent)
Substitutions for West Ham United
66’ 2nd Half – Pablo Felipe off for Maximilian Kilman
75’ 2nd Half – Valentín Castellanos off for Callum Wilson
Bookings for West Ham United:
48’ 2nd Half – Oliver Scarles (Holding an opponent to prevent advancement)
51’ 2nd Half – Adama Traoré (Arguing with an opponent)
Sending-off for West Ham United:
55’ 2nd Half – Jean-Clair Todibo (Direct red card)