Emerson’s first Premier League goal secures point against Chelsea
Referee: Craig Pawson
Emerson Palmieri overturned a Joao Felix lead as West Ham United drew 1-1 with Chelsea at the London Stadium in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.
Felix’s first goal for Chelsea in his second appearance for the club put Graham Potter’s side ahead in the 16th minute, but Emerson equalized against his former club in the 28th minute.
West Ham thought they had won in the end through Tomas Soucek, but the midfielder’s close-range effort was ruled out for offside following a VAR check.
The result left Chelsea ninth in the Premier League table on 31 points, nine points behind fourth-placed Newcastle United, while West Ham moved up to 15th, with the Hammers now on 20 points.
Reece James took an early free-kick into the arms of Lukasz Fabianski as Chelsea made most of their early runs at the London Stadium.
The Blues had the ball in the back of the West Ham goal in the ninth minute by Felix, who converted after hitting the post on the first attempt, but the offside flag came to help the hosts.
West Ham were forced to make a substitution in the 14th minute as Lucas Paquetá was unable to protect himself from the shoulder strain he suffered earlier in the game.
Chelsea opened the scoring in the 16th minute and it was the Blues’ first goal for Felix, who fired a volley into the back of the net after collecting a fine pass from Enzo Fernandez.
In the 22nd minute, the visitors put the ball back in the net, with Kai Havertz rounding Fabianski before finishing, but the German international was just offside.
West Ham managed to level the scores in the 28th minute, with Emerson converting at the far post after Jarrod Bowen deflected a Vladimir Coufal cross towards the far post.
Fabianski did well to deflect Noni Madueke’s shot in the 34th minute before Said Benrahma broke through the other end, only to be denied by a Thiago Silva tackle.
The West Ham goalkeeper made another clever save to offset a Felix free kick five minutes before the end of the first period, before Benoit Badiashile headed the home side’s crossbar from a corner.
Declan Rice fired wide of the Chelsea goal in the 54th minute, with both teams facing forwards early in the second half at the London Stadium.
Michail Antonio nodded to a James volley just over his own crossbar in the 57th minute, but the West Ham striker continued to look dangerous from the other end, with Badiashile picking up a yellow card for bringing him down as he ran towards the box from Chelsea.
Havertz had a brilliant chance to put the visitors ahead in the 74th minute when he volleyed in Ben Chilwell’s cross, but the German headed the ball wide of the post.
West Ham thought they had taken the lead in the 82nd minute, with Soucek firing in from close range after Kepa Arrizabalaga headed past Rice, but VAR ruled him out for offside.
Chelsea wanted a late penalty when Conor Gallagher’s shot hit Soucek’s hand before deflecting off the post, but the Blues were not awarded the decision, with the points being split.
Chelsea will now turn their attentions to the Champions League, with the Blues preparing to travel to Borussia Dortmund for the Round of 16 first leg on Wednesday night.
West Ham, meanwhile, have the small matter of a trip to Tottenham Hotspur in the league next Sunday.
Lineups:
Fabiański, Coufal, Kehrer, Ogbonna, Aguerd (Johnson 80), Emerson, Paquetá (Souček 14), Rice , Bowen, Benrahma (Downes 67), Antonio (Ings 67)
Unused subs: Hegyi, Anang, Lanzini, Fornals
Arrizabalaga, James, Badiashile, Thiago Silva , Cucurella (Chilwell 67), Loftus-Cheek (Gallagher 79), Enzo, Madueke (Mount 67), Félix, Mudryk (Ziyech 67), Havertz
Unused subs: Bettinelli, Azpilicueta, Chalobah, Chukwuemeka, D Fofana
Scorers:
28′ Emerson
16′ Félix
Bookings:
Coufal
Badiashile
Man of the Match : João Félix Sequeira