Enzo Fernández sent Stamford Bridge into raptures with a dramatic injury-time winner, completing a stunning comeback for Chelsea against West Ham United in a Premier League thriller. The Argentine midfielder waved his shirt in delight after sweeping home the decisive goal, capping a remarkable turnaround that saw the Blues recover from a two-goal deficit to snatch a 3-2 victory.
From Mutiny to Disbelief: A Pattern Emerges Under Rosenior
Stamford Bridge was mutinous at half-time and in disbelief by the final whistle, as a pattern continues to develop under head coach Liam Rosenior. After messing up his starting lineup in midweek against Napoli, Rosenior faced similar scrutiny when his side fell 2-0 down and risked unravelling against West Ham. Nuno Espírito Santo's visitors were on course for a crucial win in their relegation battle, thanks to early goals from Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville.
Substitutions Spark Chelsea's Revival
With Chelsea all over the place in the first half, Rosenior's triple substitution proved pivotal. Wesley Fofana and João Pedro combined to pull a goal back, before Marc Cucurella—another substitute—equalised. The explosion of noise at Stamford Bridge reached its peak when João Pedro cut the ball back for Enzo Fernández to sweep home the winner in added time, sealing a memorable comeback.
West Ham's Collapse and Disarray
West Ham, who remain five points below Nottingham Forest in 17th place, ended the match in disarray. Nuno's tactics worked beautifully in the first half, but his negativity ultimately caught up with him as the Hammers dropped points from a winning position for the 17th time this season. Tempers boiled over after Fernández's goal, with a mass brawl breaking out that saw West Ham defender Jean-Clair Todibo receive a red card for appearing to throttle João Pedro.
Chelsea's Mentality Tested
Chelsea's mentality in so-called smaller games was under the spotlight, with no room for complacency against opponents fighting for their lives. Rosenior had described the match as a chance to learn about his players, but he could not have expected the brutal lesson delivered by West Ham in the first half. The hosts were rattled from the start, discombobulated by a muscular press, and struggled to build momentum after Rosenior made seven changes ahead of their League Cup semi-final second leg against Arsenal.
First-Half Dominance by West Ham
West Ham took the lead in the seventh minute when Aaron Wan-Bissaka rampaged forward from right-back and found Jarrod Bowen, whose inswinging cross confused Robert Sánchez and drifted in at the far post. Chelsea's left flank was a mess, with Jorrel Hato given a chasing by Bowen before being removed at half-time. The Hammers almost doubled their lead when Bowen combined with Taty Castellanos, only for Sánchez to make a crucial block.
Chelsea were becalmed and appalling in the first half, with home fans letting them know their displeasure. Alejandro Garnacho faced criticism for refusing to track back, leaving Hato exposed, and West Ham exploited this weakness to score their second goal through Summerville in the 36th minute. Stamford Bridge grew restless, with Trevoh Chalobah arguing with a fan at half-time, requiring intervention from Chelsea's player support officer Willie Isa.
Second-Half Transformation
Rosenior's triple substitution at the break brought on João Pedro, Cucurella, and Fofana, but West Ham continued to press early in the second half, with Sánchez making smart stops to deny Bowen and Mateus Fernandes. However, the Hammers could not press home their advantage, and Chelsea grabbed a lifeline out of nowhere when Fofana advanced and crossed for João Pedro to head in his fourth goal in three games.
The mood shifted dramatically, with Alphonse Areola making a stunning save from Moisés Caicedo. Nuno's defensive changes, switching to a back five, invited trouble, and Chelsea equalised within three minutes through Cucurella's rebound effort. West Ham, without a clean sheet since August, hit the post through Todibo in the 86th minute but were heartbroken by Fernández's late winner, highlighting their ongoing struggles to secure results.
