YARMY ARMY
Ukrainian sub Andriy grabs a vital late winner for Hammers on a crazy night to make up for all the VAR-d luck stories
DAVID MOYES punched the air while Frank Lampard was surrounded by bubbles.
What an incredible finish to a brilliant London derby won by West Ham substitute Andriy Yarmolenko’s 89th-minute winner.
On any other night, the roof would have come off even in this rather soulless stadium but there were no fans to enjoy what was a huge win for West Ham and will surely go a long way to keeping them up.
But it was also a wasted opportunity for Chelsea as a win would have taken them third and no wonder Lampard looked fed up on a return to his old club, with West Ham’s bubble machine working overtime to celebrate the late drama.
West Ham had been behind, fought back and this victory was huge even if it did once again expose Chelsea’s defensive frailties with keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga looking a liability.
It was a cracking match but still felt very tepid by usual standards because it was played out behind closed doors on a dank, rainy and miserable July evening in what was supposed to be the first week of Wimbledon. Chelsea struggled to find their rhythm early on as Willian and Ross Barkley saw long-range efforts well saved by Lukasz Fabianski while Christian Pulisic curled a big chance high and wide.
West Ham also had their moments as Michail Antonio’s cross shot flashed wide of the far post and also went just beyond Manuel Lanzini who slid in trying to put it into the net.
But then the game really came to life after 34 minutes when VAR intervened. And how we’ve missed it. Mind you, Moyes definitely hasn’t.
Jarrod Bowen’s corner was headed on by Issa Diop, Tomas Soucek put the ball in at the back post but VAR ruled it out after Antonio’s head was judged to be offside.
Moyes looked incensed, clearly feeling that Antonio was not interfering with play.
It got worse for West Ham eight minutes later when Chelsea went ahead.
Pulisic cut inside the box,
Diop left a trailing leg and over went the Chelsea winger and it was a clear penalty.
Willian stepped up to fire the away side ahead.
But where there is Kepa there is always hope for any opposing team. The Chelsea keeper looks like an accident waiting to happen and, despite being 6ft 1in, looks frightened of crosses while never commanding his penalty box.
Bowen tried a similar corner routine, Kepa got lost in the penalty-box melee and Soucek climbed above Cesar Azpilicueta to head home.
This time VAR had no answer and the only complaint was
SUPERSUB Andriy Yarmolenko’s lastminute winner took West Ham a giant step towards Premier League salvation.
Boss David Moyes celebrated animatedly as
Yarmalenko’s low finish sealed a home-and-away double against Chelsea.
The Hammers had a Tomas Soucek goal wiped out by VAR after a long delay, but held their nerve to claim a deserved win.