West Ham 3-2 Chelsea: The one that would have seen Chelsea go third

Christian Pulisic could not have done more

Despite the season being nowhere near over, commercial commitments took centre stage on Wednesday night as Chelsea new kit and sponsor were unveiled. It has yet to be confirmed that Chelsea conceded three shocking goals as an homage to their new shirt sponsor. Let's just hope it's not a trend that they plan to continue.

West Ham have now done the double over the Blues for the first time since 2002-03, a season in which they were relegated. To further contextualize that - 20 per cent of all the points West Ham have won this season have been against Chelsea. Frank Lampard could shockingly be the man to win Liverpool the title AND keep West Ham up.



Christian Pulisic recovered from the knock he picked up on the weekend to earn another start. And continued to impress. There weren't many positives to take away from this game - but Captain America continues to excel no matter what those around him do. And while Willian's name goes down for both goals - both were created by the American.

West Ham opened the scoring in a bizarre scramble in front of Kepa, but frenemy VAR ruled it out. Despite being on the ground, Michail Antonio was deemed to have been blocking Kepa's vision as well as being offside. At that moment, we all thought we got away with one.

Following football narrative, of course, Chelsea quickly recovered to actually open the scoring. With Pulisic too quick to stop in a conventional way, Issa Diop saw fit to leave a trailing leg to take him out. Willian stepped up to convert the penalty and pad those stats. All was briefly right in the world.

Still hates West Ham

But just before the half-time whistle blew Tomas Soucek found the back of the net once again. And this time the goal stood. Tammy Abraham stood on the line to back up Kepa - but actually just watched the ball go in. Right idea, but lack of execution on any level.

After Michail Antonio ran circles around Andreas Christensen in the first half, he was finally rewarded with a goal just six minutes into the second half. Once again his impact came from lying on the pitch. He was left to his own devices and was able to nip in as Jarrod Bowen squared the ball.

Once Olivier Giroud and Ruben Loftus-Cheek were introduced, the momentum seemed to swing in Chelsea's favour. Not only did they test West Ham's defence but Chelsea looked re-energized. After winning the penalty in the first half, Pulisic earned a free-kick which again Willian took. It rattled in past Fabianski to see the Blues go level.

Disaster at the death

Despite Chelsea continuing to push for a winner it was Andriy Yarmolenko who struck late in injury time. Seemingly abandoned by Marcos Alonso in their own half, the Ukrainian found himself one on one with Antonio Rudiger who attempted and failed to block after allowing the forward to shift the ball onto his stronger foot.

Wolves and Man United have closed the gap to just two points on Chelsea in fourth. But the Blues have climbed to within one of third place Leicester. Who's going to blink first in the race of a Champions League place next season?

Next up Watford - who sit just one place behind West Ham in the table. While the Hammers have become somewhat of a bogey team of late, Watford cannot boast the same. Chelsea have lost just 1 of their last 17 games against the Hornets across all competitions.

Roll on Saturday!

jb xx

RESULT: West Ham 3-2 Chelsea

GOALS: Willian 42, Soucek 45+2, Antonio 51, Willian, Yarmolenko 89

CHELSEA XI: Kepa, Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger, Alonso, Barkley (Loftus-Cheek 63), Kante, Kovacic (Mount 53), Willian, Pulisic, Abraham (Giroud 63)

STAR MAN: Michail Antonio