Chelsea Secures 2-1 Win Over West Ham

⚽ **Chelsea Climb Back into Top Four with Comeback Win Over West Ham** 🔵

Chelsea secured a hard-fought **2-1 victory** over West Ham at Stamford Bridge, climbing back into the **Premier League top four** in the process. Despite a lackluster first half, the Blues turned the game around with two scrappy second-half goals, showcasing their resilience under manager **Enzo Maresca**.

🔑 **Key Moments of the Match:**

1️⃣ **West Ham Take the Lead:**

- **Jarrod Bowen** capitalized on a defensive error by **Levi Colwill** in the 42nd minute, slotting a composed finish past goalkeeper **Filip Jörgensen**.

- The goal came after **Mohammed Kudus** pressured Colwill into a misplaced backpass, handing West Ham a deserved lead.

2️⃣ **Chelsea’s Comeback:**

- The Blues equalized through **Pedro Neto**, who continued his excellent form with a well-taken goal.

- The winner came via an **own goal** from **Aaron Wan-Bissaka**, who deflected a **Cole Palmer** effort into his own net under pressure.

3️⃣ **West Ham’s Late Push:**

- The Hammers almost snatched a late equalizer when Kudus was denied by a crucial block from **Tosin Adarabioyo** in added time.

🗣️ **Enzo Maresca’s Reaction:**

- **“I was very happy because I consider tonight the toughest game mentally,”** said Maresca.

- He praised his team’s patience and mental strength, especially after conceding from their own mistake.

- Maresca also highlighted the impact of substitutes, who helped turn the game in Chelsea’s favor.

📊 **Tactical Notes:**

- **West Ham** set up in a **3-4-2-1 formation**, stifling Chelsea’s attack for large parts of the game.

- The Hammers were hampered by injuries, with key players like **Lucas Paquetá** and **Edson Álvarez** missing, and had to rely on makeshift solutions, including a midfield debut for **Andy Irving**.

- Chelsea struggled to create clear chances in the first half, with **Cole Palmer** heavily marked and **Nicolas Jackson** forced off with a hamstring injury.

🚨 **Transfer Window Fallout:**

- The closure of the transfer window may bring some stability to Chelsea, who saw **João Félix** head to Milan on loan and **Axel Disasi** join Aston Villa.

- West Ham, meanwhile, are still dealing with the consequences of **two years of botched recruitment**, leaving them short of depth in key areas.

💬 **Final Thoughts:**

While Chelsea’s performance was far from convincing, the win highlights their ability to grind out results when not at their best. For West Ham, there were positives to take despite the defeat, as they continue to adapt to **Graham Potter’s** tactical ideas.

📈 **What’s Next?**

- Chelsea will look to build on this result as they aim to solidify their place in the top four.

- West Ham, despite their injury woes, showed enough quality to suggest they can compete with the league’s best.

#️⃣ **#Chelsea #WestHam #PremierLeague #EnzoMaresca #JarrodBowen #ColePalmer**