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Cheslea 2-1 West Ham United: Match report, player ratings, fan reaction and more

Goals from second-half substitutes Ben Chilwell and Kai Havertz rescued the full complement of points for Chelsea at Stamford Bridge after Michail Antonio had put West Ham ahead fifteen minutes after the interval.

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Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea was spared their blushes late on as the Blues fought back from a one-goal deficit to secure a 2-1 win against London rivals West Ham at Stamford Bridge this afternoon, with summer signing and former Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang looking on in the crowd.

Goals from second-half substitutes Ben Chilwell and Kai Havertz sealed all three points for the hopeful Premier League challengers in front of the home support in the English capital after Jamaican international Michail Antonio broke the deadlock in the 62nd minute after David Moyes’ Hammers looked to be comfortably heading to at least a point away from home during what has been a difficult start from the Premier League upstarts.

The Blues struggled to truly make their dominance in possession count in the first 45-minutes in what has been a running theme with Tuchel’s men in the Premier League since his arrival after departing Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain.

But Chelsea would come to life after the introduction of Chilwell and Havertz, with the England international left-back first leveling proceedings with a sublime close-range finish before he would turn provider for Havertz’s half-volley from inside the area just two minutes before stoppage time after West Ham substitute and former Burnley star Maxwel Cornet struck the woodwork when he should have otherwise found the back of the net.

The Ivorian international would then be denied a second time after Blues keeper Édouard Mendy parried a bouncing ball out of the path of Hammers winger Jarrod Bowen, with the two making contact leading to Mendy staying down clutching his left shoulder, only for Cornet to pounce on the loose ball and set himself before slamming it into the top corner in what would have given West Ham a deserved share of the spoils.

VAR had other ideas, and the goal would eventually be overturned in what was deemed to be a foul on Mendy by Bowden despite video evidence suggesting that the Senegalese shot-stopper may have made a meal of the coming-together with the England winger.

Chelsea Player Ratings

GK: Édouard Mendy (6.5) – Rescued by VAR after having made a meal of a bouncing ball late in the second half but overall an okay performance from the Senegalese keeper.

RCB: Wesley Fofana (6.5) – Probably a slightly underwhelming outing from the big-money summer signing but he should still settle well over time.

CB: Thiago Silva (7.5) – Ageless at the back in what was another very good day at the office from the veteran Brazilain star, who bagged an assist as his reward.

LCB: Kalidou Koulibaly (6.5) – Another topsy-turvy outing from Koulibaly as he looks to continue to adjust to life in the Premier League after his arrival from SSC Napoli.

RWB: Reece James (6.5) – Not his usual influential self in the attacking third for the England international but hardly was a problem area throughout.

LWB: Marc Cucurella (6) – Still looking to find his feet at Stamford Bridge since his summer arrival. Will have to work overtime if he can convince he is clear of Chilwell.

DM: Ruben Loftus-Cheek (6.5) – Relatively decent from the Cobham academy product while being deployed in an unfamiliar holding midfield role. Could certainly have done worse.

RCM: Conor Gallagher (6.5) – A slight improvement by Gallagher here as he looks to fight for his Chelsea career but has a long way to go to work himself into the XI regularly.

LCM: Mateo Kovačić (6) – With true defensive cover lacking given the absences of N’Golo Kanté and Jorginho in the XI, Kovačić was certainly off the boil in the midfield battle.

RCF: Christian Pulisic (6) – Try as he might but US international Christian Pulisic remains unable to stake a serious claim for a place. Okay, but will remain on the periphery.

LCF: Raheem Sterling (6.5) – Has yet to truly find his feet at Chelsea in a wildly different system to that of his better days at both Manchester City and Liverpool.

Sub: Armando Broja (6.5) – Signed a long-term extension with the Blues and came off the bench in what was a decent substitute appearance. Should feature more.

Sub: Mason Mount (6) – Hardly his best performance in a Chelsea shirt this season and was unable to really impose himself despite featuring for over thirty minutes.

Sub: Ben Chilwell (8) – A goal and an assist in a substitute appearance for the England international who may be good value for replacing Cucurella in the XI moving forward.

Sub: Kai Havertz (7.5) – Bagged the match winner off the bench after Christian Pulisic was given the nod in the XI. Aubameyang’s arrival could keep Havertz as a rotation option.

Sub: Jorginho (6) – Struggled to find the match rhythm after his introduction late in the second half.

West Ham United Player Ratings

GK: Łukasz Fabiański (6) – Age is finally catching up with the Polish international keeper, and though he is not at fault for either goal, his inability to command is telling.

RB: Vladimir Coufal (6) – Much like his compatriot in Souček, Coufal has fallen well off the boil at West Ham since his prominent rise among the club’s ranks after his arrival from Slavia Prague.

RCB: Thilo Kehrer (6) – The former FC Schalke 04 standout has struggled since leaving the Bundesliga, and has yet to justify West Ham plucking him from PSG amid his struggles in Paris

LCB: Kurt Zouma (7) – Hardly an issue overall for Moyes or the team performance as a whole. Defended well enough to feel aggrieved that they did not take a point.

LB: Emerson (6) – Former Chelsea left-back Emerson did not enjoy a return to Stamford Bridge but could sneakily be a halfway decent summer acquisition if he settles.

RCM: Declan Rice (7) – The heart of the Hammers’ spine under Moyes was solid as ever once more. Only a matter of time before he moves on from the club.

LCM: Tomáš Souček (6.5) – Struggling to be the rock in the heat of the Hammers midfield this season after he was previously deemed one of the best central players in England.

RW: Jarrod Bowen (7) – A credible performance from the England wide man despite not getting his name on the scoresheet or in the assist column. Unlucky to have been judged to foul Mendy.

CAM: Lucas Paquetá (7) – A good debut from the Brazilian and former Lyon standout. Will certainly come into the fold as a key asset under Moyes after his summer move.

LW: Pablo Fornals (6) – Nothing spectacular from Fornals, who was overshadowed by Bowen, Paquetá, and Antonio throughout. May have to be sacrificed once Scamacca returns.

CF: Michail Antonio (7) – A goalscoring effort for the Jamaican international and Hammers stalwart as he hopes to remain a partner of summer signing Gianluca Scamacca rather than his deputy.

Sub: Saïd Benrahma (6) – Looks to be settled into his role as an impact sub in what has been a stalled career since his influential days at Brentford.

Sub: Angelo Ogbonna (6) – Brought on to shore up the defense but failed in his primary task overall. Kehrer’s arrival will surely see him remain as a depth option for Moyes.

Sub: Maxwel Cornet (6.5) – Robbed of a goal on two occasions by the woodwork and VAR. A lively and nearly influential 10-minute cameo off the bench.

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Andrew Thompson

US-based Football writer. German football guru with a wealth of experience in youth development and analysis. Data aficionado. Happily championing the notion that Americans have a knowledgeable voice in the beautiful game.

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