Late Fernandez goal seals Chelsea comeback against West Ham

Chelsea fought back from two goals down to win in stoppage time against West Ham in a dramatic London derby at Stamford Bridge.

Enzo Fernandez’s 92nd-minute winner sparked wild scenes at Stamford Bridge to snatch victory, having been 2-0 down through goals from Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville.

New manager Liam Rosenior’s substitutes, who had hauled Chelsea back into the game as half-time introductions, Joao Pedro and Marc Cucurella, both scored to level the match.

It was a blow for West Ham, who dominated the first half. Bowen’s in‑swinging cross beat Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, who was unable to claim the ball as Pablo threatened to get a touch on its way through to open the scoring.

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That seventh‑minute strike came either side of two shots on target from new striker Taty Castellanos, while Summerville curled home a second goal from inside the box after a move down the right involving Bowen and Aaron Wan‑Bissaka.

Cole Palmer’s 30-yard free-kick was Chelsea’s only shot on target in a dismal first half.

The hosts were booed off at half-time, and Rosenior made three changes. He removed the struggling left‑side trio of Jorrel Hato, Benoit Badiashile and Alejandro Garnacho – at fault for both first-half goals – bringing on Joao Pedro, Cucurella and Wesley Fofana.

After West Ham’s efforts from Matheus Fernandes and Bowen were saved early in the second half, Chelsea began to dominate.

Pressure built as Liam Delap went close and a long‑range Moises Caicedo long-range strike was pushed away, before Fofana’s deep cross was headed in by Joao Pedro to pull a goal back in the 57th minute.

Thirteen minutes later, Cucurella – one of Rosenior’s changes – produced a diving header to equalise after Malo Gusto’s header across goal caused a goalmouth scramble.

With the crowd now behind them, Chelsea pushed for a third, and while West Ham’s Jean-Clair Todibo hit the post in the 86th minute, Fernandez pounced to finish Joao Pedro’s cross from close range for the winner.

Todibo was sent off for his part in a melee at the end of the match after a lengthy video assistant referee (VAR) check, as emotional scenes boiled over.

The result lifts Chelsea above Manchester United into fourth place in the Premier League, while West Ham remains five points below Nottingham Forest. United and Forest play tomorrow and both have a game in hand.

(BBC)