Moises Ciacedo conceded a late penalty on his Chelsea debut as 10-man West Ham beat the Blues to record their first victory of the 2023/24 Premier League season.
Aguerd put West Ham into the lead after James Ward-Prowse delivered a delicious corner kick but Chelsea drew level thanks to Cairney Chukwuemeka’s brilliant strike.
Chelsea had the chance to take the lead from the penalty spot but Eno Fernandez failed to convert.
The Hammers then took the lead after Michail Antonio rifled past Robert Sanchez from 18 yards and the Hammers secured victory after Caicedo fouled Emerson, a former Chelsea player.
Lucas Paqueta stepped up and dispatched the penalty kick sending Sanchez the wrong way.
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 yet have just one point from their first two competitive games under new manager Pochettino.
Two of the club’s biggest outlays during that lavish period of spending had an afternoon to forget at London Stadium.
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 the 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.
Impressive Ward-Prowse enjoys ‘special day’
West Ham were playing at home for the first time since beating Fiorentina 2-1 in June to win the Europa Conference League – the Hammers’ first piece of silverware since 1980.
The trophy was on display at London Stadium before the match, but the man who lifted the trophy, England midfielder Declan Rice, is no longer at the club having joined Arsenal in a £100m deal in July.
His replacement James Ward-Prowse, whose £30m move from Southampton was confirmed on Monday, impressed his new supporters as he registered two assists – the corner for Aguerd’s header then the pass through for Antonio to score West Ham’s second.
“It was a dream debut for me on a personal note, just a direct free-kick was missing,” Ward-Prowse told Sky Sports.
“Everyone knows the impact Declan Rice had for this club, I have to show what James Ward-Prowse can bring to the club and that’s my mentality.
“It is a special day and the first of hopefully many more to come.”
