London, Feb 4: Chelsea staged a dramatic comeback to secure a vital 2-1 victory over West Ham in a pulsating London derby at Stamford Bridge, keeping their hopes of a top-four finish alive in the Premier League.
The victory, only Chelsea’s second in their last eight league outings, lifted the Blues to fourth place in the table. They now sit two points above defending champions Manchester City and four behind third-placed Nottingham Forest. Meanwhile, West Ham, struggling for consistency, remain 15th and continue to flirt with the lower half of the table.
Bowen Returns with a Bang
The match saw the return of England forward Jarrod Bowen, who had missed West Ham’s previous six games due to a foot injury. His comeback proved impactful as he broke the deadlock just before halftime, showcasing his predatory instincts in front of goal.
The breakthrough came in the 42nd minute following a costly defensive lapse from Chelsea. Levi Colwill, attempting to recycle possession, delivered an under-hit back pass from the touchline, leaving Bowen with the opportunity to pounce. The West Ham captain controlled the ball and, with composure, guided a left-footed strike into the bottom corner beyond Chelsea’s young goalkeeper Filip Jørgensen, who had been handed a start in place of the struggling Robert Sánchez.
Chelsea Fight Back in the Second Half
West Ham looked poised to control proceedings in the second half, but Chelsea responded emphatically in the 64th minute. Just as the Hammers were beginning to dictate the tempo, Mauricio Pochettino’s side found their equalizer.
Enzo Fernández’s shot was blocked on the goal line in a frantic penalty-area scramble, but the loose ball fell kindly to substitute Pedro Neto, who rifled home to bring Chelsea level. The goal was awarded after a lengthy VAR review, despite West Ham’s vociferous protests, claiming Bowen had been fouled in the build-up.
Buoyed by the equalizer, Chelsea intensified their attacking efforts, and their persistence paid off in the 74th minute, albeit in fortunate circumstances. Cole Palmer, a standout performer for Chelsea this season, found himself in a tight angle on the left flank. His attempted cross took a wicked deflection off West Ham defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka, wrong-footing goalkeeper Alphonse Areola and nestling into the back of the net. The own goal sealed a hard-fought three points for Chelsea.
West Ham Left Empty Handed
Despite a resilient performance, West Ham left Stamford Bridge empty-handed, with Bowen reflecting on what could have been a different outcome for his team.“Just disappointed to be leading and lose the game,” Bowen admitted in his post-match interview. “We left everything out there. We came to a side who are pushing for the top four, pushing for the title. On another day, I think it could have been a different result.”For West Ham’s recently appointed manager Graham Potter, the result marked an unhappy return to Stamford Bridge. Potter, who was dismissed as Chelsea head coach in April 2023 after less than seven months in charge, had hoped for a statement win against his former club but ultimately saw his side falter in the latter stages of the contest.
What’s Next?
Chelsea will now look to build momentum as they continue their push for Champions League qualification. With crucial fixtures on the horizon, Pochettino will be eager for his side to maintain consistency after an up-and-down season. West Ham, meanwhile, must regroup quickly as they battle to pull away from the lower half of the table.With the season entering its decisive phase, both London clubs have plenty to fight for, but on this occasion, it was Chelsea who emerged victorious in an enthralling encounter at Stamford Bridge. (AP)