Stamford Bridge witnessed a dramatic turnaround today as Chelsea clawed back from a two-goal deficit to snatch a 3-2 victory against West Ham.
A lackluster first half left the home side reeling, with Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville putting the Hammers firmly in control. However, a triple substitution at the break by Liam Rosenior ignited a spirited revival.
Goals from Joao Pedro and Marc Cucurella leveled the scoring before Enzo Fernandez delivered a sensational stoppage-time winner to complete the turnaround.
Chelsea Player Ratings
Robert Sanchez – 6/10
The Spanish keeper found himself in a difficult position for both first-half goals, particularly the first where he appeared distracted by the movement of the West Ham frontline. While he struggled to instill confidence when building from the back and expressed visible frustration with his defenders, he remained steady enough to see out the second-half resurgence.
Malo Gusto – 6/10
It was a challenging afternoon for the Frenchman, who struggled to contain the pace and trickery of Summerville throughout the match. Despite being bypassed on several occasions, he redeemed his defensive lapses with a crucial contribution at the other end, heading the ball back across the face of goal to assist Cucurella’s equalizer.
Trevoh Chalobah – 5/10
In what was a shaky defensive display for the Blues overall, Chalobah was arguably the most composed of the starting back four. While it wasn’t a masterclass in defending, he provided a necessary level of grit during the first half when the team was under heavy pressure from the Hammers’ attackers.
Benoit Badiashile – 3/10
A difficult day at the office for the defender, who looked vulnerable as West Ham’s clinical counters carved through the left side of the defense. His struggles were evident early on, and it was no shock to see him replaced during the half-time tactical overhaul as Rosenior sought to tighten the ship.
Jorrel Hato – 3/10
The young Dutchman endured a harrowing “Welcome to the Premier League” experience at the hands of Jarrod Bowen. Hato was frequently caught out of position and struggled to track the movement of the West Ham captain. Deprived of support from the wings, he was ultimately sacrificed at the interval for a more experienced option.
Moises Caicedo – 5/10
Usually the heartbeat of the Chelsea midfield, Caicedo was uncharacteristically sloppy today. His distribution was off-target, notably leading to a dangerous second-half turnover that left his manager visibly frustrated on the touchline. A late yellow card for a foul on Summerville capped off a frustrating outing for the Ecuadorian.
Enzo Fernandez – 8/10
Thriving in a more advanced role, Fernandez proved once again why he is indispensable. After a quiet start, he grew into the game and became the creative engine for the comeback. His technical quality shone through when it mattered most, as he arrived at the edge of the box to fire home a brilliant winning goal in the dying moments.
Cole Palmer – 6/10
Playing centrally in the first half, the talisman found it difficult to find space against a compact West Ham block. His influence improved significantly once he shifted to the right flank following the substitutions, showing flashes of his trademark vision, though he struggled to get into the high-impact areas he usually frequents.
Jamie Gittens – N/A
The youngster was handed a rare start but saw his afternoon cut short after just 26 minutes due to injury. He had little time to exert his influence on the game before being forced off, leaving Chelsea to adjust their game plan early in the piece.
Liam Delap – 4/10
Given the nod to lead the line, Delap struggled to impose himself on the physical West Ham center-backs. He was largely isolated for the duration of his time on the pitch and failed to register a meaningful impact on the game before being rotated out during the tactical shift.
Alejandro Garnacho – 3/10
A performance to forget for the talented winger, who was guilty of losing possession frequently in the opening half-hour. His defensive work rate was equally disappointing, failing to track back and support Hato, which contributed significantly to the defensive collapse on the left flank.
Substitutes
Pedro Neto (26′) – 5/10
Coming on early for the injured Gittens, Neto struggled to truly get into the rhythm of the game. While he offered a threat on the break, the final ball was often lacking, and he found himself on the periphery of the action for much of the contest.
Joao Pedro (45′) – 7/10
The Brazilian provided the immediate spark Chelsea desperately needed. Introduced at half-time, he wasted no time in making his presence felt, rising highest to power home a header from a Fofana cross and giving the home fans hope of a comeback.
Marc Cucurella (45′) – 7/10
Cucurella provided much-needed stability and energy on the left side. Beyond his defensive improvements over Hato, he showed great attacking instinct to gamble on a loose ball in the box, nodding home the equalizer that set the stage for the dramatic finale.
Wesley Fofana (45′) – 6/10
It was a mixed bag for Fofana, who initially looked rusty and was lucky not to concede a penalty or a third goal shortly after his introduction. However, he made amends with a perfectly weighted cross for Joao Pedro’s goal, proving vital to the offensive recovery.
Reece James (81′) – N/A
The captain made a brief appearance in the closing stages to provide leadership and fresh legs as Chelsea pushed for the winner.