Late goals by substitutes Mohamed Diame and Modibo Maiga gave West Ham United a 3-1 win over Chelsea in the English Premier League yesterday to further complicate life for Blues interim coach Rafael Benitez.
Juan Mata scored the first goal of the Benitez era to put Chelsea ahead but former Chelsea youth-team player Carlton Cole equalised before Diame and Maiga struck to condemn the visitors to a seventh league game without victory. Chelsea have drawn twice and lost once since Benitez took over and they trail leaders Manchester United by seven points, having played a game more, while West Ham climb to seventh.
“At this level, you have to take your chances, and we had many clear chances to finish the game,” said Benitez. “In the second half we were not winning the first ball or the second ball and we didn’t have the control we had in the first half.”
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce was happy with the way his substitutions worked.
“We started okay but when they scored we lost our confidence and momentum,” said Allerdyce. “So I needed to make some changes. We tried to freshen the team up, bring in some fresh legs. It was all about playing in the opposition’s half and it paid off.”
The arrival of the 11th minute at Upton Park saw Fernando Torres’ league goal drought tick beyond the 11-hour mark, but two minutes later he teed up Mata for Chelsea’s opener with an astute cut-back.
West Ham introduced Diame and Matt Taylor at the interval and after an enterprising start to the second period, they drew level in the 63rd minute when Matt Jarvis’ deflected cross was nodded in by Cole. Both sides threatened thereafter, with Mata hitting the post from a free-kick, but it was Sam Allardyce’s side who prevailed.
Diame met Cole’s lay-off with a crisp low drive in the 86th minute before a misplaced pass from Ashley Cole let West Ham in for their third goal in stoppage time, with Maiga ramming home after Petr Cech saved from Taylor.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 2nd, 2012.
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