Club News: Ben Chilwell and Kai Havertz scored as Chelsea win against West Ham United
It was the substitutes that saved Thomas Tuchel from an embarrassing loss against West Ham United. Ben Chilwell and Kai Havertz scored from the bench as the Blues came back from being a goal down.
Tuchel was heading for back-to-back Premier League defeats for the first time since taking over the west London club in January 2021 (h/t The Sun). Michail Antonio scored in the 62nd minute after a corner miss hap by Chelsea. David Moyes’s men were looking to head for victory.
But a double substitution in the 72nd minute was enough to change the game. The German manager introduced Havertz and Chilwell and both the players only went and won the game for their side.
Four minutes after coming on, Chilwell found the back of the net with a lovely presence of mind. And in the 88th minute, the England defender would assist Havertz for the winner.
Everyone thought that the Blues would take home the three points, but then in the 89th minute, a West Ham goal was overturned by VAR. It was a correct decision as Jarrod Bowen had clearly fouled Edouard Mendy in the build-up which left the net empty without any keeper.
Tuchel will have questions about his team’s performance, but will happily take the much-needed three points. The substitutes bought the energy needed to see off their stubborn London rivals.
New signing Wesley Fofana started the game with Thiago Silva and Kalidou Koulibaly at the back. Conor Gallagher returned from his suspension and started the game with Ruben Loftus-Cheek in the middle of the park while Christian Pulisic and Raheem Sterling started up front together.
More Chelsea News:
- Thiago Silva wanted Lucas Paqueta to sign for Chelsea instead of West Ham United
- Transfer News: Chelsea to return for Edson Alvarez in January
- Thomas Tuchel rates the business done by Chelsea in the summer window
A win see Chelsea move up to the fifth position on the table with 10 points, just behind Brighton & Hove Albion on goal difference. Attention will now turn towards the Champions League with the Blues kickstarting their European campaign with a visit to Dinamo Zagreb this Tuesday.
