Chelsea scored three times in 19 minutes in the first half to defeat West Ham United 5-1 in their English Premier League (EPL) clash at the Hammers’ London stadium on Friday night.
The London derby was keenly contested, but it was the Blues who thrashed their neighbours with goals from Joao Pedro, Pedro Neto, Enzo Fernandez, Moise Caicedo, and Trevor Chalobah, despite conceding first.
Chelsea started Estevao, the Brazilian wonderkid, for his first start, but the tricky youngster was at fault as Lucas Paqueta crashed a long-range strike into the top corner for 1-0 to West Ham just six minutes into the match.
Enzo Maresca’s side however turned up the burners and scored thrice in a 19-minute period. Pedro powered home a flicked corner kick to level on 15 minutes, Neto volleyed beyond the goalkeeper to put Chelsea in the lead seven minutes later, before Fernandez converted Estevao’s assist from close range for 3-1 on 34 minutes.
Poor defending from corner kicks gifted the World Club champions further goals, with Caicedo in the right place to tap into an empty net on 54 minutes before Chalobah’s header four minutes later sent West Ham fans home early, while Chelsea claimed all three points.
West Ham have lost their two opening EPL fixtures, while Chelsea, expected to mount a title challenge, claimed their first win of the season.
