Chelsea delivered a masterclass performance on Friday night, thrashing West Ham United 5-1 at the London Stadium to claim their first Premier League win of the season. The match was marked by exceptional displays from Chelsea's South American contingent, who played pivotal roles in the victory.

Early Setback and Quick Response

Chelsea faced an early setback when Cole Palmer was ruled out during the warmup. His replacement, Estêvão, made a costly error, giving away possession that led to Lucas Paquetá's opening goal for West Ham. However, Chelsea responded swiftly, with João Pedro heading in an equalizer from Marc Cucurella's flick off a corner.

Taking Control

From there, Chelsea dominated the game. Pedro Neto put the visitors ahead with a well-taken goal, and Estêvão redeemed himself by setting up Enzo Fernández for Chelsea's third. Moisés Caicedo added a fourth after a goalkeeping error, and Trevoh Chalobah sealed the win with a powerful strike.

Key Performances

• Enzo Fernández: The Argentine midfielder was instrumental, dictating play and scoring a crucial goal.
• Moisés Caicedo: The Ecuadorian was a rock in midfield, capping his performance with a goal.
• João Pedro: The Brazilian was involved in multiple goals, showcasing his attacking prowess.

Manager's Impact

Enzo Maresca's tactical acumen was evident as Chelsea controlled the game from start to finish. His side looked well-prepared and executed their game plan to perfection.

Player Ratings

• GK Robert Sánchez: 5 - Struggled with Paquetá's opener but had little else to do.
• DF Marc Cucurella: 7 - Provided the assist for the equalizer and was solid defensively.
• MF Moisés Caicedo: 8 - Dominated midfield and scored.
• MF Enzo Fernández: 8 - Controlled the game and scored.
• AM João Pedro: 8 - Involved in multiple goals, a standout performer.

Conclusion

Chelsea's emphatic win was a statement of intent for the season. With their South American stars in fine form, the Blues look poised to challenge for the title.