Football Review | Chelsea 3 - 2 West Ham

Chelsea staged a stirring comeback to beat West Ham 

This late drama came after the home side fell two goals behind in a gripping London derby

Author | Lewis W

Stadium | Stamford Bridge

Enzo Fernández struck the decisive blow in the 92nd minute to prompt raucous celebrations, completing a turnaround after goals from Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville had put West Ham firmly in control.

Chelsea’s revival owed much to the impact of Liam Rosenior’s half-time changes. João Pedro and Marc Cucurella, both introduced at the interval, found the net as the hosts hauled themselves level after a chastening first half.

A closer analysis of what happened

West Ham were the sharper side early on and took a deserved lead inside seven minutes. Bowen’s inswinging cross eluded Robert Sánchez, who failed to claim the ball as Pablo applied pressure, allowing it to drift in for the opener. The visitors continued to threaten, with new striker Taty Castellanos registering two early efforts on target.

Their dominance was rewarded again when Summerville curled home from inside the area, finishing a slick move down the right involving Bowen and Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Chelsea, disjointed and second best, mustered just one shot on target before the break, a long-range Cole Palmer free-kick. The home side were booed off at half-time.

Rosenior responded decisively, making three changes and withdrawing Jorrel Hato, Benoît Badiashile and Alejandro Garnacho, all of whom had struggled, for João Pedro, Cucurella and Wesley Fofana.

After Sánchez saved early second-half efforts from Matheus Fernandes and Bowen, momentum swung Chelsea’s way. Liam Delap went close and a Moisés Caicedo drive from distance was pushed away before Fofana delivered a deep cross that João Pedro headed in on 57 minutes to reduce the deficit.

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The equaliser arrived 13 minutes later. Malo Gusto nodded the ball across goal, prompting a scramble that ended with Cucurella diving in to head home, further lifting the mood inside the stadium.

With belief surging, Chelsea pressed for a winner. West Ham nearly reclaimed the lead when Jean-Clair Todibo struck the post late on, but Fernández was alert to convert João Pedro’s low cross from close range to complete the comeback.

Tempers flared at the end. Todibo was shown a straight red card after a VAR review for grabbing João Pedro by the neck during a melee sparked by Pedro’s reaction to an Adama Traoré shove on Cucurella.