West Ham United claimed a rousing London derby win against big-spending Chelsea despite playing almost 30 minutes with 10 men.
The Hammers were 2-1 ahead when defender Nayef Aguerd, who opened the scoring with a seventh-minute header, was sent off in the 67th minute for his second bookable offence.
But Chelsea could not force an equaliser and then conceded a late third through Lucas Paqueta’s penalty in the fifth minute of added time.
Teenager Carney Chukwuemeka scored his first goal for the Blues to make it 1-1 but Enzo Fernandez wasted a chance to put them ahead when his penalty was saved by Alphonse Areola.
Michail Antonio put West Ham back in front with a powerful angled strike in the 53rd minute, before the hosts were reduced to 10 men.
However, Mauricio Pochettino’s side could not use their man advantage to force a second leveller despite a second-half debut for Moises Caicedo, who joined from Brighton earlier this week in a deal that could become a British record.
The Ecuador midfielder signed for an initial £100m, although the deal could be worth up to £115m, and he had a chance to make it 2-2 but shot over from the edge of the penalty area.
Caicedo then conceded a penalty with a foul on Emerson and Paqueta scored from the spot to seal West Ham’s victory.
A poor start for new Chelsea manager Pochettino
Chelsea have spent more than £900m since American businessman Todd Boehly and private equity firm Clearlake Capital bought the club in May 2022, however they have just one point from their first two competitive matches this season under new manager Pochettino.
Two of the club’s biggest outlays during that lavish period of spending had an afternoon to forget.
Fernandez, whose £107m move from Benfica in February is the British transfer record that Caicedo could potentially break, wasted the perfect chance to score his first Chelsea goal.
England winger Raheem Sterling was a constant threat for Chelsea and he was brought down by Tomas Soucek in the penalty area but Fernandez’s spot-kick was saved by Areola diving to his right.
Caicedo chose to join Chelsea over Liverpool on Monday, but it was an uncertain start for him in Chelsea colours – including needing Blues goalkeeper Robert Sanchez to make a good save after the debutant had given the ball away to Pablo Fornals.
Moments later Caicedo then conceded a penalty and, unlike Fernandez, Paqueta converted it as West Ham maintained their unbeaten start to the season that gives them four points from their opening two matches.
Brazil playmaker Paqueta has been linked with a transfer but his potential move to Manchester City has been put on hold after it was revealed he is being investigated by the Football Association for potential betting rule breaches.
–BBC
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