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Chelsea Stage Fightback To Beat West Ham, Climb To Fourth Place

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5 months ago

February 1, 2026

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Enzo Fernandez’s stoppage-time winner capped Chelsea’s thrilling fightback from two goals down to beat West Ham 3-2 in a dramatic London derby on Saturday.

Liam Rosenior’s side trailed to first-half goals from Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville at Stamford Bridge.

But Chelsea ignored the half-time jeers from their angry fans, staging a brilliant revival after the break.

Joao Pedro reduced the deficit before Marc Cucurella headed the equaliser.

For the first time in the Premier League era, Chelsea came from two down at half-time to win thanks to their captain, as Fernandez netted in stoppage-time.

West Ham’s Jean-Clair Todibo was sent off for violent conduct after tempers boiled over in the final seconds.

Rosenior Continues Impressive Start

In what Rosenior had labelled Chelsea’s “biggest match of the season,” the Blues showed their character in memorable fashion.

They climbed to fourth in the Premier League as Rosenior became only the fourth English manager to win his first three Premier League games after Bobby Gould, Sam Allardyce, and Craig Shakespeare.

Rosenior has overseen six wins from seven games in all competitions since arriving from Strasbourg to replace Enzo Maresca.

The highlight of Rosenior’s impressive start had come on Wednesday when the Blues fought back from 2-1 down to beat Napoli 3-2 in Italy, securing a place in the Champions League last 16.

But this was arguably even more eye-catching than that success, given how Rosenior turned the tide after Chelsea’s wretched first half.

Rosenior will bid to work another miracle on Tuesday when Chelsea look to overturn a 3-2 deficit in the League Cup semi-final second leg at Premier League leaders Arsenal.

From Boos To Bedlam

He made seven changes after the victory in Naples, with Cole Palmer back in the starting line-up after starring from the bench in midweek.

Chelsea looked out of sync following the reshuffle, and West Ham took advantage to go ahead in the seventh minute.

Bowen wriggled into space on the edge of the penalty area before curling in a cross that eluded the outstretched boot of West Ham striker Pablo and caught Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez flat-footed as it drifted into the far corner.

Rosenior suffered another blow when winger Jamie Gittens limped off injured after a challenge with Summerville.

Summerville inflicted more pain on Chelsea in the 36th minute.

In a flowing move from West Ham, Bowen picked out Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and his cross was perfectly weighted for Summerville to thump a superb finish past Sanchez from 12 yards.

Alejandro Garnacho’s dismal display drew the ire of angry Chelsea fans, and the Argentine winger was put out of his misery as Rosenior took him off at half-time.

Rosenior also removed Benoit Badiashile and Jorrel Hato, but Sanchez had to save a fierce blast from Mateus Fernandes after the restart.

Sanchez saved again to repel Bowen’s snap-shot, yet just as Chelsea looked down and out, Rosenior’s changes finally paid dividends.

Wesley Fofana’s buccaneering run climaxed with a precise cross towards Joao Pedro, who rose highest to head past Alphonse Areola from close-range.

The Brazilian’s fifth goal in his last five games was followed by Chelsea’s 70th-minute leveller.

Malo Gusto nodded Enzo Fernandez’s cross to Liam Delap for a chance that bounced down off the bar towards Cucurella, whose diving header beat Areola from close-range.

Chelsea were rampant, and Fernandez bagged the winner two minutes into stoppage-time.

Joao Pedro pulled his pass across goal, and Fernandez thumped past Areola to celebrate his 150th Chelsea appearance in memorable fashion.

Todibo couldn’t handle West Ham’s collapse and he saw red after grabbing Joao Pedro around the throat.

Sports

2026 World Cup: 12 teams qualify for Round of 16

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8 hours ago

July 3, 2026

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Spain are the latest team to confirm their place in the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup.

The European champions thrashed Austria 3-0 in their Round of 32 clash on Thursday evening.

It was a display of complete dominance by Luis de la Fuente’s men, as they lived up to their pre-tournament billing as favourites.

Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring for Spain in the first half, before Pedro Porro doubled their advantage in the 66th minute.

Oyarzabal continued his fine scoring form with a second late on.

They will now face the winner of Portugal.

Other teams confirmed in the last 16 are: USA, England, Belgium, France, Brazil, Norway, Morocco, Paraguay, Canada and Mexico.

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World Cup 2026: Spain cruise into last 16 with win over Austria

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8 hours ago

July 3, 2026

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Spain coasted past Austria and into the World Cup last-16 on Thursday, thoroughly outclassing their opponents in a 3-0 knockout win with a brace from Mikel Oyarzabal and a Pedro Porro header.

The European champions controlled possession and sliced through the Austrian defense in a typically dominant performance in Los Angeles, as Hollywood stars Penelope Cruz, Javier Bardem and singer Rosalia cheered on.

The win — which could have been by a greater margin, with a disallowed goal and a free kick off the woodwork — sets up a tantalizing round-of-16 clash with either Portugal or Croatia.

The SoFi Stadium was a sea of red and excitement was sky-high over the first visit by a bona fide World Cup favorite to America’s second city.

Spain ratcheted up the pressure gradually through the first half, creating a string of chances after the first hydration break.

Marc Cucurella thought he had scored from a Lamine Yamal corner, but Pau Cubarsi was judged to have encroached on Austria’s goalkeeper.

Alexander Schlager then made a superb diving save, pushing Oyarzabal’s low shot around the post.

Austria’s defense finally buckled in the 36th minute. Pedri pinged a ball wide left to Cucurella, whose cross to Oyarzabal was calmly side-footed past the ‘keeper.

Spain’s dominance grew further, with Yamal tormenting the Austrians, mainly from the right flank.

An Alex Baena free kick hit the crossbar, and Yamal’s close-range follow-up shot was well saved.

Austria spurned a rare chance at the other end. Romano Schmid played in a late-arriving and unmarked Stefan Posch, but a terrible first touch meant he lost the ball before even attempting a shot.

‘Ole’

After the break Spain continued knocking on the door without quite putting the game to rest.

Austria sent on two giant strikers — Sasa Kalajdzic and Marko Arnautovic — and immediately went long, with Kalajdzic putting a header over the bar.

But in the 66th minute, Spain struck again. Baena lifted a cross onto the head of Pedro Porro, who nodded in his first goal for Spain.

Some dogged defending kept the scoreline respectable, including a goalline clearance by David Alaba from Yamal, who was substituted off to rest moments later.

Spain sprayed passes around the pitch as the final minutes ticked down, eliciting “Oles” from the crowd, as attention turned to a sterner test on Monday in Dallas.

In the 89th minute, a pinpoint Cucurella cross found a completely unmarked Oyarzabal in the penalty area, who slotted the ball home.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)