Chelsea pulled off a thrilling second-half comeback to defeat West Ham United 2-1 on Monday, spoiling former manager Graham Potter’s return to Stamford Bridge. Goals from substitute Pedro Neto and an own goal by Aaron Wan-Bissaka propelled the Blues to fourth place in the Premier League, leapfrogging Manchester City and Newcastle United while closing the gap on third-placed Nottingham Forest.
West Ham started strong, with Jarrod Bowen marking his return from a month-long injury layoff in style. The England international capitalized on a costly back pass from Levi Colwill, slotting a left-footed shot past Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen just three minutes before halftime. The Hammers held onto their lead going into the break, thanks to an impressive save from Alphonse Areola, who tipped a dangerous Cole Palmer free kick over the bar.
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Chelsea struggled in the first half, wasting multiple opportunities through Enzo Fernandez, Palmer, Noni Madueke, and Jadon Sancho. But under-pressure coach Enzo Maresca responded decisively in the second half, making two game-changing substitutions by bringing on Pedro Neto for Sancho and Marc Guiu for Nicolas Jackson just seven minutes after the restart.
The tactical shift paid off as Neto found the equalizer in the 64th minute, pouncing on a ricocheted shot from Fernandez. A lengthy VAR check for offside kept the Stamford Bridge crowd on edge before the goal was eventually awarded. Chelsea’s momentum continued, and just 10 minutes later, Palmer’s dangerous cross forced Wan-Bissaka into a desperate attempt to clear, only for the ball to deflect into his own net, sealing West Ham’s fate.
Potter, who was hoping for a triumphant return to his former club, watched in frustration as his side squandered their lead. Meanwhile, Chelsea’s dramatic win not only revived their top-four ambitions but also silenced critics questioning Maresca’s game management. With their sights set on further climbing the table, the Blues now shift focus to their upcoming fixtures as they aim to solidify their Champions League spot.
