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.
Full-time: West Ham 1-1 Chelsea
Read Jamie Braidwood’s report from the London Stadium:
Graham Potter left ruing Tomas Soucek’s ‘save’ as Chelsea blunted by West Ham
West Ham United 1-1 Chelsea: Joao Felix’s early strike was cancelled out by Emerson’s equaliser against his former club
Full-time: West Ham 1-1 Chelsea
Both teams had offside goals ruled out, but the biggest talking point of the game was Tomas Soucek’s ‘save’ from Conor Gallagher at the end of the 90 minutes. It was fairly obvious in real time and certainly clear on the replay, so quite how the referee and then VAR missed the incident is hard to work out.
West Ham 1-1 Chelsea
90+1 min: Five minutes to be added on. Surely time for one more chance for someone...
West Ham 1-1 Chelsea
89 min: A huge moment in the game - Gallagher’s low shot is clearly blocked by the hand of Soucek. It’s a save. The referee doesn’t see it, but surely VAR will... no! Somehow Soucek gets away with it. Bizarre.
West Ham 1-1 Chelsea
87 min: Chelsea have plenty of the ball right now but West Ham are not letting them through.
Disallowed! West Ham 1-1 Chelsea
Declan Rice was offside, and it’s still level.
GOAL! West Ham 2-1 Chelsea (Soucek, 80)
The Hammers lead! Emerson’s free-kick is delivered to Rice whose header is saved, but the rebound is tapped in by Soucek from close range... but was Rice offside? VAR is checking.
West Ham 1-1 Chelsea
77 min: Mount’s low cross is blocked away by the feet of Fabianski and falls inviting for Fernandez arriving on the edge of the box, but he can’t steer his shot on target with the goalkeeper stranded.
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