Viewers of the Chelsea/West Ham game got just about everything. They got a high scoring game, some lovely goals and a bit of controversy sprinkled into the festivities.
West Ham looked poised to take three points and go into a top four spot in the English Premier League table until Chelsea got a couple of fortunate spots that led to goals.
First, Manuel Lanzini looped in a beautiful goal over the head of Thibaut Courtois and put West Ham up 1-0 in the 17th minute.
Chelsea would equalize but not without a bit of controversy. Before Cesc Fabregas took his penalty, the ball was moved back a yard or two but the line didn’t move with the ball. Was that enough space for Fabregas to get the goal, we’ll never know. We do know that he did score and it would be 1-1 in the half.
West Ham would shake off that Chelsea goal by scoring another. This time, Dimitri Payet’s pass to Andy Carroll was what made this goal special. How he was able to get the pass out to Carroll with those Chelsea players there, is astounding. Way to see a lane that almost everyone else would’ve been nuts to try and West Ham would be up 2-1.
But that would be short lived as Chelsea won a penalty right before stoppage time. Michail Antonio clipped Ruben Loftus-Cheek in the box and Fabregas got his second goal of the day to seal the 2-2 draw.
The draw prevents West Ham 4th place but it’s not doom and gloom for them. West Ham is still in 5th, three points ahead of Manchester United (who play tomorrow). Chelsea remain in 10th but gain a point on West Brom and Everton who are behind them and lost today.
