Nicolas Jackson scored his 20th and 21st Chelsea goals on his 50th appearance for the club as the Blues took a 2-0 lead after 18 minutes at West Ham in the Premier League on Saturday.
On his full Chelsea debut, Manchester United loanee Jadon Sancho slipped striker Jackson clear of West Ham’s defence on the left, entering the penalty area and beating Alphonse Areola with a low shot into the far corner of the net from a tight angle.
Senegal international Jackson started the move with a swift free-kick from inside his own half to begin the move that ended in his third goal of the season.
Nico Jackson is off to a flyer ✈️
The Chelsea striker doubles his side’s lead with another brilliant finish 🔥
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/uQdxSfokns
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 21, 2024
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Jackson goals: West Ham ‘shock’
“The free-kick’s taken quickly; it’s really quick thinking by Jackson, who started it,” former Leeds forward Lucy Ward told TNT Sports.
“West Ham just fell asleep, really. The crowd can’t believe it – it’s been a theme of West Ham’s season where they’ve given the ball away in certain areas.
“You see everyone’s relaxing and Jackson’s having a look, thinking ‘we can get going here’. What a finish. This place is in shock. West Ham are struggling to get back but he’s really shown [Areola] the angle and it’s gone through his legs.”
Jackson surged into the penalty area and prodded in his second with the outside of a boot to double Chelsea’s advantage 14 minutes later.
Moises Caicedo looked up on the halfway line and spotted ample spacce in which to thread a pass on to Jackson’s run, helping Chelsea become the only team aside from Manchester City to reach double figures so far.
The goal also meant Jackson has seven Premier League goals since May 1 – the highest total during that period aside from Erling Haaland, who has 15.
Nico Jackson gets Chelsea off to a brilliant start at the London Stadium 🤩
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/QqHJZ6koXt
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 21, 2024
Chelsea: Jackson ‘really confident’
Ward described Chelsea’s second goal as “far too easy”. “Jackson is really confident – you can see how confident he is from that second finish,” she added.
West Ham are yet to avoid defeat at home in the top flight under new manager Julen Lopetegui, losing 2-1 to Aston Villa and 3-1 to Manchester City.
Speaking before the first match of the weekend in the Premier League, former West Ham and Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole had called the contest a must-win for the Hammers.
Lopetegui has overseen a home victory, beating Bournemouth 1-0 through Jarrod Bowen’s 88th-minute winner in the second round of the Carabao Cup on August 28.
