In a fiercely contested match at the London Stadium, West Ham emerged victorious with a 3-1 win over Chelsea, leaving the Blues with just one point from their first two Premier League fixtures this season.

The encounter got off to an electrifying start when Nayef Aguerd capitalised on a James Ward-Prowse corner to head West Ham into the lead. Despite the early setback, Chelsea dominated possession and persistently pressed forward in search of an equaliser. Lucas Paqueta came agonisingly close to levelling the score, rattling the post with a scuffed volley. Follow your favourite Premier League team with attractive football betting odds from Nextbet. 

The breakthrough for Chelsea finally came through a moment of brilliance from Carney Chukwuemeka. The midfielder displayed quick footwork to deceive a defender before curling a sensational shot into the net. Chelsea had a golden opportunity to take the lead just before halftime when Raheem Sterling was fouled in the box, but Enzo Fernandez’s penalty was denied by Alphonse Areola.

The second half brought another twist in the tale as West Ham’s Michail Antonio capitalized on a counterattack, slotting the ball home after a precise delivery over the top. Chelsea continued to press, with almost all of the remaining game played in West Ham’s half. Young talents Moises Caicedo and Mason Burstow made their debuts, but Chelsea couldn’t find the elusive second equalizer.

West Ham delivered the final blow in injury time when a penalty was awarded against Caicedo, and Lucas Paqueta calmly converted from the spot to make it 3-1.

Despite the disappointing result, it’s still early days for Chelsea under the management of Mauricio Pochettino, with a newly reconstructed squad. The Blues will be looking to bounce back when they return to Stamford Bridge to face newly promoted Luton Town in their next Premier League fixture on Friday, August 25.

The match showcased Chelsea’s dominance in possession but also highlighted the importance of converting opportunities into goals. West Ham, on the other hand, capitalised on their chances and defended resolutely, securing a valuable victory in front of their home crowd. Get the latest updates from the Premier League only on Nextbet Sports.