West Ham United came from a goal down to absolutely stun Chelsea 3-1 in a thrilling London Derby of the English Premier League Saturday.
Carlton Cole, Mohamed Diame and Modibo Maiga scored the goals for the home side at Uptoin Park, after Juan Mata had seemingly put Chelsea on their way early on.
The first half was all Chelsea, with West Ham looking like a team bereft of ideas. If ever Rafa Benitez needed a game when his side could take control and run things according to their needs, this was it, as the likes of Ramires and Juan Mata dominated the midfield and the pace of play.
After a period of patient possession, Chelsea struck the opening goal. Victor Moses, who had an excellent first half, played a brilliant through ball to Torres, who in turn cut the ball back perfectly for Juan Mata to guide into the bottom corner - Chelsea's first goal in over five and a half hours of open play.
West Ham, without Andy Carroll in their lineup, after the striker was ruled out for a month, was just not having the same effect, with Carlton Cole, while doing a good job, starved of support, as West Ham started to defend deeper and deeper.
The West Ham that one thought, would be right down Chelsea's faces, charging them down and trying to take advantage of a Blues side short on confidence was nowhere to be seen.
Torres had a shot, which went high and wide off a quick counterattack orchestrated by Ramires, before Eden Hazard saw his shot go just high, after turning onto his left foot.
West Ham were looking their most effective on set plays, with Kevin Nolan putting the ball into the back of the net, but the referee blew the whistle for an earlier foul on Branislav Ivanovic by James Collins.
Moses then almost created Chelsea's second goal. Some brilliant wing play turned the West Ham defense upside down, before the winger cut the ball back for the waiting Mata, whose strike was well saved by Jussi Jaaskelainen, with Joey O'Brien blocking the rebound.
West Ham, undeservedly, almost got back into the game, thanks to some harakiri from Petr Cech. The goalkeeper came out to clear a hopeful punt, with the Czech punching the ball outside the penalty box with his hand, and rightfully earning a yellow card.
Off the ensuing freekick, which was taken by Collins, Matt Jarvis headed towards the danger area off the rebound, with Nolan then forcing a good save off Cech from his own header.
West Ham needed to come out a different side in the second half, and they sure did. Sam Allardyce made a couple of changes to great effect, bringing on Mohamed Diame and Matt Taylor for James Tomkins and Gary O'Niel.
Mark Noble slotted in as the defensive screen, with Diame's dynamism immediately making a big difference in the West Ham lineup. All the purpose and intent was there for all to see in the second half from the home team, with West Ham getting their equalizer just after the hour.
The Hammers pressurized Cesar Azpilicueta, with the right back giving the ball away, allowing Matt Jarvis to get a cross in, which was deflected on its way, allowing Carlton Cole to climb above Branislav Ivanovic to head in against his old side.
Chelsea replied well to the goal, with Hazard first stinging Jaaskelainen's hands, before the rebound from Torres was again saved by the goalkeeper.
Juan Mata then was unlucky to see his brilliant freekick strike the post with Jaaskelainen well beaten.
However, the force was very much with West Ham now, as crosses after crosses came in with Cole looking like a new striker.
Jarvis had a great chance after going clear through on goal, but his shot was directed straight at Cech, who made the save. Off the ensuing corner, Winston Reid powered a header, which was saved off the line by Ashley Cole, with eight minutes remaining.
The home side got a deserved winner with four minutes to go. A throw in, saw O'Brien hang a cross towards Cole, who held the ball up before placing it on a plate to Diame, who powered it low and hard past Cech.
Chelsea and Benitez's night was compounded in the first minute of stoppage time, with Ashley Cole of all people making a mistake, giving the ball away to Maiga, who then got in on the end to smash the ball in to cap off an amazing turnaround for the Hammers.
