West Ham vs Chelsea LIVE: Tomas Soucek handball missed by VAR in controversial finish
The points were shared at the London Stadium
Chelsea were held to a 1-1 draw at West Ham United on Saturday as Joao Felix’s opener was cancelled out by ex-Blues defender Emerson Palmieri, leaving Graham Potter’s expensively assembled team still a long way from a top-four spot.
Felix returned to the team after the on-loan Portuguese winger was sent off in his debut for Chelsea last month and in the 16th minute he side-footed home a pinpoint cross by British record signing Enzo Fernandez, one of the many new faces at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea sought to extend their lead but it was their former wing-back Emerson who equalised in the 28th minute when he arrived unmarked at the far post to meet a headed flick-on by Jarrod Bowen and shoot past Kepa Arrizabalaga.
In a second half of few chances, Tomas Soucek put the ball in the back of the net in the 82nd minute but Declan Rice, who headed the ball on to the Czech, was ruled offside by VAR.
A few minutes later, Chelsea appealed in vain for a penalty, claiming substitute Conor Gallagher’s shot was stopped by Soucek’s hand.
The draw meant Chelsea have now won only one of their last seven league games - and they have not won away since October. They stayed ninth in the table, nine points behind fourth-placed Newcastle who have played a game less.
West Ham climbed up to 15th but are only two points ahead of Everton, the highest placed team in the relegation spots.
West Ham 1-1 Chelsea
68 min: A round of substitutions, as Ings and Downes replace Antonio and Benrahma for West Ham.
Mudryk, Cucurella and Madueke are off for Chelsea subs Ziyech, Chilwell and Mount.
West Ham 1-1 Chelsea
65 min: Benrahma has an ambitious crack at goal, which hits the wall, and it’s a corner.
West Ham 1-1 Chelsea
64 min: Antonio spins Badiashile so cleverly and the young defender is booked when he tries to recover. It will be a free-kick for West Ham, around 35 yards from goal...
West Ham 1-1 Chelsea
62 min: James’ floated cross is caught by Fabianski.
West Ham 1-1 Chelsea
57 min: Another half-chance for Chelsea falls to Mudryk after a ricochet in the box, but he’s sprinting and can’t control it, and the ball bounces off his boot and behind for a goal-kick.
West Ham 1-1 Chelsea
55 min: Chelsea have a free-kick on the left side, which James and Madueke stand over. There are plenty of options in the box to aim it. It’s James who whips in a delivery which is flicked just past the far post by the head of Antonio. Oof, Fabianski was beaten.
West Ham 1-1 Chelsea
53 min: West Ham go on the counter-attack but Bowen’s pass to Antonio is cut out by Mudryk, who had raced back to defend. A moment later West Ham come forwards again and Rice drags his shot wide.
West Ham 1-1 Chelsea
51 min: Chelsea are struggling to create a clear-cut chance.
West Ham 1-1 Chelsea
48 min: The second half has started similarly to the first, with Chelsea on the front foot and West Ham defending in a deep, passive block.
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