
Stamford Bridge experienced one of the most exciting nights of the 2025/26 Premier League season. The world champion, Chelsea, hosted the rising West Ham United in a duel full of goals and emotions, which ended with an epic comeback by the Blues.
On a cold night in London, the Blue fans made their home-field advantage count. However, they did not anticipate that a hammer would fall upon them for almost the entire first 45 minutes of play.
The team led by Nuno Espirito Santo came out plugged into the Derby from minute one. As is characteristic of the Portuguese manager's teams, the Hammers did not let the opportunity pass to go after Chelsea, waiting for a mistake or a ball steal in the Blues' area.
The pressure was not long in taking effect, as in the sixth minute, Jarrod Bowen controlled the ball on the edge of the six-yard box and sent a cross into the heart of the area. To the fortune of the West Ham player, neither his teammates nor the defense managed to connect with the ball, and it slipped into the net of Robert Sanchez's goal.
West Ham did not let up the pressure and continued to take possession of the ball in the following minutes, while the Blues' midfield could only watch as the ball was passed from side to side.
By the 35th minute, the right flank of the visiting team orchestrated a perfect triangulation. Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Bowen played a one-two until reaching the edge of the area; subsequently, the same Wan-Bissaka sent a pulled-back ball, which Crysencio Summerville struck first-time with his right foot to score the second.
The second half, as if it were a match reset, showed two different faces of the teams: Chelsea with the intention of going forward, and a timid West Ham that did not want or could not do more.
The Blue tide, thanks to the changes made by Liam Rosenior, managed to overcome the adversity of the game. They reduced the distance in the 56th minute, all thanks to a cross to the back post by Wesley Fofana, which was headed in by Joao Pedro, who, after coming on as a substitute, made it 1-2.
Chelsea took charge of pushing their city rivals into their own area, and for the remaining 35 minutes, everything turned against the former Nottingham Forest manager, who found himself overwhelmed for the entire second half.
The equalizer arrived in the 70th minute, after the ball traveled around the entire West Ham area until the Spaniard Marc Cucurella, who had also come on as a substitute, launched himself into a diving header to level the score and make Stamford Bridge erupt.
Finally, the great Club World Cup champion imposed its conditions and sealed the game in stoppage time, thanks to a strike from Enzo Fernandez, who celebrated his birthday with this historic comeback in the London Derby, and consigned West Ham to the relegation zone.
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