London – Chelsea secured their first win of the 2025/26 Premier League season with a commanding 5-1 victory over West Ham United at the London Stadium on Friday night.
The Blues fell behind early when Lucas Paqueta struck in the sixth minute, but Joao Pedro quickly drew Chelsea level before assisting Pedro Neto for the go-ahead goal in the 23rd minute. Enzo Fernandez tapped in a third before halftime to put Chelsea firmly in control.
West Ham’s defense faltered again after the break, allowing Moises Caicedo and Trevoh Chalobah to add two more goals before the hour mark. The result leaves Chelsea at the top of the league with four points, while West Ham remain at the bottom after two matches.
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca said the team’s response after going behind showed character. “The reaction was impressive. The players stuck to the plan and won the game,” he said, noting that Cole Palmer missed the match due to an injury sustained during the warm-up.
West Ham forward Jarrod Bowen expressed frustration at his team’s performance, describing it as “fuming, disappointing” and acknowledging the need for accountability among the squad.
Chelsea’s young Brazilian striker Estevao, 18, made history by becoming the youngest player to assist a goal for the club in the Premier League. All five Chelsea goals came from different scorers, illustrating the team’s collective attacking strength.
Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah said contributing to the scoreline was satisfying, but the focus remained on the three points. “We wanted to win the first game of the season at home and that did hit a bit. The most important thing is the three points,” he said.
West Ham manager Graham Potter now faces pressure as his side struggles to find form at home. Chelsea’s dominant display suggests the Blues have overcome their early-season jitters and can mount a strong campaign.
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