Chelsea finally got their season up and running with a resounding victory in east London, sweeping aside West Ham in a one-sided derby that left home fans heading for the exits long before the final whistle.
Goals from Joao Pedro, Pedro Neto, Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo and Trevoh Chalobah sealed the Blues’ first win of the campaign, while condemning the Hammers to back-to-back defeats after their opening-day loss to Sunderland.
The evening didn’t start smoothly for the world club champions. Cole Palmer was withdrawn before kick-off as a precaution, with 18-year-old Estevao Willian stepping in. The teenager endured a nightmare introduction when his attempted backheel was intercepted, allowing Lucas Paqueta to stride forward and unleash a thunderous strike that gave West Ham an early lead.
But Estevao quickly recovered, linking up superbly with his compatriot Joao Pedro, who nodded home the equaliser just nine minutes later. From there, Chelsea took complete control. A VAR intervention spared them another scare when Niclas Fullkrug’s finish was ruled out for a marginal offside in the build-up, and soon after Pedro Neto’s crisp volley put the visitors ahead. Estevao then turned provider, setting up Fernandez for Chelsea’s third before half-time.
The second half was even more ruthless. After Fernandez spurned a chance to extend the lead, West Ham keeper Mads Hermansen endured a debut to forget, flapping at successive corners. Caicedo and Chalobah both capitalised, scoring within minutes of each other to put the game far beyond reach.
By then, the atmosphere inside the London Stadium had soured completely. Boos rang out, seats emptied, and frustration boiled over as Graham Potter’s side were humbled on their own turf.
For West Ham, it was another damaging defeat: six home games without a win, and eight goals conceded in their opening two fixtures – their worst defensive start to a top-flight season. Chelsea, meanwhile, will take confidence from a convincing display that showcased both their seasoned stars and their promising young talent.
