Chelsea staged a stunning comeback to beat West Ham United 2-1 at Stamford Bridge on Monday night, climbing back into the Premier League’s top four.
The inspired substitutions by manager Enzo Maresca turned the tide, helping the Blues overcome a first-half deficit.
Despite dominating possession, Chelsea found themselves trailing at the break. The first clear opportunity fell to Noni Madueke, whose shot narrowly missed the far post.
West Ham’s response was swift, with Jarrod Bowen capitalizing on a defensive error to curl a low shot into the corner in the 42nd minute. Chelsea almost equalized just before halftime through Cole Palmer’s stunning free-kick, but Alphonse Areola’s brilliant save kept the visitors ahead.
Maresca made early second-half changes, introducing Marc Guiu and Pedro Neto in the 52nd minute. The substitutes injected energy into Chelsea’s attack and were instrumental in shifting momentum.
Neto, in particular, proved crucial when he scored the equalizer in the 64th minute after persistent Blues pressure. The ball was moved to Neto on the right wing, and after some clever movement, his delivery into the box resulted in a scramble before he calmly fired home from close range. A lengthy VAR check confirmed the goal, sparking scenes of jubilation among the home fans.
Ten minutes later, Chelsea completed the comeback. Cole Palmer’s powerful strike from the left side of the penalty area took a wicked deflection off Aaron Wan-Bissaka, leaving Areola helpless as the ball soared into the net for the winning goal.
Chelsea remained on the front foot, with Tosin Adarabioyo and Palmer coming close to adding a third. Tosin’s header was pushed away by Areola, while Palmer’s curling 20-yard shot hit the stanchion.
At the other end, West Ham mounted a last-minute counterattack, and Mohammed Kudus seemed destined to score, but Tosin’s perfectly timed block denied the Hammers a dramatic equalizer.
The victory lifts Chelsea to fourth place in the Premier League standings, two points ahead of Manchester City and four points behind Nottingham Forest. It was a much-needed win that restored momentum after a tough loss to Manchester City. The Blues will now shift focus to their upcoming FA Cup fourth-round tie against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.
Chelsea’s starting lineup featured Jorgensen in goal, with Reece James captaining the side alongside Tosin, Levi Colwill, and Marc Cucurella in defense.
Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez operated in midfield, supporting Noni Madueke, Palmer, Jadon Sancho, and Nicolas Jackson in attack. The substitutes bench included Sanchez, Acheampong, Dewsbury-Hall, and George. Key moments saw Neto and Guiu’s introduction, followed by Christopher Nkunku and Malo Gusto entering the fray.
For West Ham United, Alphonse Areola started between the posts with Wan-Bissaka, Max Kilman, and Coufal forming part of the backline. Bowen, Souček, Mohammed Kudus, and Soler spearheaded their attack. Their solitary goal came from Bowen’s clinical strike late in the first half.
