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.
Half-time: West Ham 1-1 Chelsea
The players are back out on the pitch for the second half - no changes at the break.
Half-time: West Ham 1-1 Chelsea
Some images from the first half at the London Stadium:
Half-time: West Ham 1-1 Chelsea
Craig Pawson peeps his whistle and that brings an interesting first half to an end. West Ham will be pretty happy, considering how little they imposed themselves on the game for the first 25 minutes. Chelsea had the ball in the back of the net three times but only one counted, and Emerson’s equaliser against his old club cancelled out Joao Felix’s volley to leave them level at the break.
West Ham 1-1 Chelsea
45 min: There will be four minutes added on, mostly down to Lucas Paqueta’s early shoulder injury.
West Ham 1-1 Chelsea
43 min: Cucurella and Coufal have a mini spat over a throw-in and moments later the Czech full-back clatters through the Chelsea defender. Probably should be a booking, but isn’t.
West Ham 1-1 Chelsea
40 min: Felix bends one around the wall but Fabianski gets across and parries away for a corner. Badiashile gets up above Ogbonna to win the header but can’t get the ball down and on target.
West Ham 1-1 Chelsea
39 min: Joao Felix has been excellent and he’s influential once more here as he races through the middle and earns a foul. Free-kick around 20 yards out, and it’s Felix lining it up...
West Ham 1-1 Chelsea
37 min: Chelsea counter and probably should score as Mudryk races down the left before cutting inside, but he picks the easy pass across to Fernandez in space when Felix had made a more aggressive run through the centre. The pass is a bit slow, too, and Declan Rice gets back to make a block.
West Ham 1-1 Chelsea
36 min: Madueke shimmies on to his left foot from the right-hand side and gets a shot away, which Fabianski dives to his right to parry. At the other end, Thiago Silva rushes back and makes a good challenge to block Benrahma from crossing.
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