Diego Costa smashed an 89th minute winner as the Blues began the Premier League season with a victory in a tight London derby at Stamford Bridge.
It looked as though we would be frustrated despite dominating for long periods when James Collins struck to cancel out Eden Hazard‘s penalty, but centre-forward Diego Costa was on hand to hit a late, late winner and hand Antonio Conte a perfect start in English football.
We had started brightly and dominated the visitors for long periods but struggled to break through, only for Cesar Azpilicueta to be awarded a spot kick when he was tripped by Michail Antonio just after the break.
Hazard duly converted and Chelsea looked comfortable, only for West Ham to score with their only effort on target 15 minutes from time when Collins hammered home at a corner.
It looked like we were going to be denied a winning start but when Diego Costa found space 20 yards out, he hammered home to ensure all three points stayed in west London.
- Match stats:
Chelsea (4-1-4-1): Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, JT (c), Azpi; Kante; Willian (Pedro 80), Matic, Oscar (Batshuayi 85), Hazard (Moses 85); Diego Costa.
Unused subs Begovic, Aina, Fabregas, Loftus-Cheek.
Scorers Hazard (pen) 47, Diego Costa 89
Booked Kante 3, Diego Costa 20, Azpilicueta 75, Pedro 90+3
West Ham United (4-1-4-1): Adrian; Antonio (Byram 52), Reid, Collins, Masuaku; Nordtveit (Payet 66); Ayew (Tore 34), Noble (c), Kouyate, Valencia; Carroll.
Unused subs Randolph, Ogbonna, Oxford, Obiang.
Scorers Collins 77
Booked Collins 21, Antonio 46
Referee Anthony Taylor
Crowd 41,521
- Match report
2 - 1 
