Express
Chelsea came away with a late victory against West Ham after a grandstand finish at Stamford Bridge with Maxwel Cornet’s last-minute strike controversially chalked off by VAR.
After a drab opening half of football that failed to produce a shot on target, the London derby livened up as tension threatened to boil over between both sets of players. And the atmosphere changed inside of Stamford Bridge after Michail Antonio pounced on a poor piece of defensive work from Chelsea on 61 minutes.
Ben Chilwell scored the equaliser before setting up Kai Havertz for the winner, before Cornet struck home late on. But the referee after some deliberation made a U-turn to rule out the goal, leaving West Ham boss David Moyes fuming. Express Sport looks at five things learned from the encounter on Saturday afternoon.
VAR drama denies Hammers
David Moyes was absolutely fuming on the touchline as Thomas Tuchel had VAR to thank for giving his side the three points. In other circumstances and on another day, it may have been a different story.
Jarrod Bowen collided with Edouard Mendy but the contact looked minimal at best. Still, it grounded the Senegalese and Cornet finished home into an empty net on 89 minutes. West Ham celebrated, but the referee cut short their joy by ruling out the goal.
Broja and Chilwell show up toothless attack
A penny for the thoughts of Armando Broja, who was benched just a day after signing a new six-year deal with the club. With Havertz dropped and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang out inured, the Albania international could be forgiven for wondering when he will get his chance to impress from the start.
The 20-year-old could only watch on as his team-mates managed a paltry three goal attempts, all off target, in the first half as the crowd grew frustrated with the Blues’ profligacy. Against a stubborn West Ham backline, Reece James’ inviting deliveries from the right were easily hoofed clear with not a blue shirt anywhere near the six-yard box — a place where Broja is always lurking.
He was eventually brought on in the second half and made an immediate impact as he caused problems for the West Ham backline. Tuchel then threw on Ben Chilwell after conceding the goal and just six minutes later, the left-back coolly brought down the long ball over the top and prodded it past Fabianski.
Their hunger to impress will not go unnoticed by Tuchel, with their desire make a difference proving vital in the end for the Blues…
