Chelsea secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over West Ham after being two goals down, thanks to a remarkable impact from substitutes Joao Pedro and Marc Cucurella. The win keeps the Blues in contention in the Premier League.
Joao Pedro shines off the bench as Chelsea fight back
Joao Pedro, introduced at half-time, turned the match around with an immediate influence, scoring Chelsea’s first goal of the second half before setting up Enzo Fernandez for a stoppage-time winner. His composed play underlined the difference substitutes can make.
Other key performers included Enzo Fernandez, who timed his run perfectly for the winner, and Wesley Fofana, whose precise cross teed up Pedro’s goal. Marc Cucurella also made an impact, stabilizing Chelsea’s defense and adding attacking threat after the break.
By contrast, Chelsea struggled in the first half. Alejandro Garnacho was anonymous, while Benoit Badiashile and Jorrel Hato failed to assert themselves in defense. Robert Sanchez made some decent saves but was caught out for West Ham’s opening goal.
Trevoh Chalobah and Moises Caicedo worked hard to regain control in midfield, with Caicedo providing the assist for Pedro’s first goal. Cole Palmer and Pedro Neto had quieter contributions, while Reece James’ late cameo had minimal impact.
Overall, Chelsea’s turnaround highlighted the importance of tactical substitutions and composure under pressure, with Joao Pedro earning top marks for his decisive role.
Player Ratings Summary
- Joao Pedro – 8: Star of the match, scored and assisted.
- Enzo Fernandez – 7: Scored winner, improved after halftime.
- Wesley Fofana – 7: Assisted Pedro’s goal with a brilliant cross.
- Marc Cucurella – 7: Stabilized right side, contributed offensively.
- Moises Caicedo – 6: Struggled early, better second half.
- Robert Sanchez – 6: Mixed afternoon, made key saves.
- Malo Gusto – 6: Improved after shaky start.
- Trevoh Chalobah – 6: Battled hard against West Ham attack.
- Pedro Neto – 6: Limited impact but industrious.
- Liam Delap – 6: Work rate noted, limited quality.
- Jamie Gittens – 5: Subbed early, minimal impact.
- Benoit Badiashile – 5: Struggled, hooked at half-time.
- Jorrel Hato – 5: Difficult first half, improved later.
- Cole Palmer – 5: Quiet performance, better after break.
- Alejandro Garnacho – 2: Very poor first half, anonymous.
- Reece James – n/a: Came on late, limited impact.