PL: Hammer blow for Chelsea as West Ham edge leaders in five-goal thriller

A freak goal from Arthur Masuaku three minutes from time helped West Ham seal a thrilling comeback win against Premier League leaders Chelsea at home on Saturday. The win helps the Hammers stay alive in the race for the top four places but deals a massive blow to Chelsea’s title ambitions, as both Liverpool and Manchester City can replace the Blues at the top of the table by the end of the matchday.  

Masuaku received the ball wide on the left and let fly a cross-cum-shot that deceived Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy to creep into the near post and send the London Stadium into delerium. 

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Thiago Silva opened the scoring on 28 minutes, nodding in Mason Mount’s corner off the inside of the post. The home side equalised five minutes from half-time after Mendy brazenly brought down Jarred Bowen inside the area following a poor backpass from Jorginho for the referee to award a penalty.

Mendy, who has been very assured between the sticks for Chelsea since his move from Rennes, will be especially disappointed as he had enough time to clear but chose to take a touch before losing the plot. Manuel Lanzini made no mistake and calmly drew the hosts level.  

Mount restored Chelsea’s lead four minutes later, beating goalkeeper Lukas Fabianksi at his near post with a sumptous volley off Hakim Ziyech’s pinpoint crossfield pass. This was the Cobham graduate’s second goal in as many games. 

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Chelsea started the second half on the front foot but the Hammers’ tactic of soaking up the pressure before hitting Thomas Tuchel’s side on the break paid off. 

The hosts drew level once again when Bowen drilled his shot low into the bottom left corner, despite being tightly marked by Silva and Andres Christensen.  

The former Hull City winger could have given West Ham the lead but failed to convert a low cross from Michael Antonio. This came just before Masuaku’s fortuitous winner inflicted a first away defeat for Chelsea. 

The win ended West Ham’s run of three games without a win, since beating Liverpool at home before the international break. They are now four points clear of Arsenal in fourth and only six behind Chelsea, who have 33 from 15 games.