James Ward-Prowse made a strong impact in his West Ham debut, contributing two assists to secure a 3-1 win over Chelsea in the Premier League. Despite being reduced to 10 men for the last 30 minutes, West Ham’s performance left Mauricio Pochettino still seeking his first win as Blues’ manager.
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Ward-Prowse, newly acquired from relegated Southampton, immediately showcased his influence. He provided pinpoint delivery on a corner, which Nayef Aguerd converted with a header, handing West Ham a 1-0 lead just seven minutes into the game.
Carney Chukwuemeka responded for Chelsea, leveling the score at 1-1 in the 28th minute. However, Enzo Fernandez, who commanded around $130 million for Chelsea last season, missed a crucial penalty just before halftime.
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West Ham regained the lead as Ward-Prowse’s precise through ball found Michail Antonio, who made good use of the opportunity. He beat Robert Sanchez with a shot from the edge of the area in the 53rd minute.
Despite Aguerd’s dismissal due to a second booking in the 67th minute, Chelsea failed to take advantage of the numerical advantage. The team’s limitations in attack were evident once again, and their struggles were epitomised by Moises Caicedo, who committed a clumsy foul to concede a penalty that Lucas Paqueta converted calmly in injury time.
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Both teams had started the season with draws in the previous weekend. Chelsea’s performance against Liverpool had been commendable in a 1-1 tie at home. Subsequently, Chelsea reinforced its squad with the signings of Caicedo and Romeo Lavia to bolster their defensive solidity, although Lavia did not even make the bench for this game. Unfortunately for Caicedo, his debut proved to be one to forget.
