Pulisic Is Awesome, Willian's on Target, but Hammers Pick a Packet of Vital Points

It's been one of the lesser heralded London derbies for some time now, mainly because West Ham United hasn't held up their end of the deal for donkey's years.

Not so this season.

The Irons wandered into Stamford Bridge last November and logged the game's only goal to stymie the Blues.

And tonight, deeply immersed in a relegation battle, dudes are proving to be the lastest poster crew for the Ultimate Theorem of Existence:

 

And if that means doing the double on a side fighting for the millions that a Champions League berth would bring, then so be it.

In a wildly exciting clash, West Ham pounded out the winning goal a minute from time, compliments of Russian substitute Andriy Yarmolenko.

 

That strike sealed a 3-2 victory at London Stadium and provided what West Ham has to consider three gift points that'll go a 'ways to ensure their Premiership survival.

It also did its bit to age Blues manager Frank Lampard more years than the 90 minutes did. Chelsea may yet land a Champions League berth, but dude's gonna need to tune up his defense if they're to make an impact. This goal further confirmed that it's nothing short of diabolical.

That was the 44th they've surrendered this season, a total that wouldn't look outta place at West Ham's end of the table.

 

That the Blues are thisclose to getting into Europe, then, is a tribute to their attack, and that's where American prodigy Christian Pulisic sets up shop.

When dude's not nailing the net himself, he's setting up the likes of Willian or coming close at the very least. Relentlessly.

 

 

Pulisic didn't add to his goal total in this one, but his cavalcade of action produced the deft moves that set up two set pieces -- on a penalty -- that allowed Willian to do his magic, scoring on both occasions.

Still, for all that proclivity, the Irons' focus was elsewhere.

 

That they were.

Because it behooved them to do so. They even got revenge on the VAR with their victory:

 

Yarmolenko's missed nearly three months with an adductor injury, and West Ham suffered for the loss. Dude may have only scored four times and added an assist this season, but the Irons have earned two wins and three draws from those outings.

In contrast, they're a mere 2-2-11 when he's not on the pitch.

 

It'd better be for the duration.

The Blues treated Pulisic with kid gloves when he arrived at Stamford Bridge, what with the Premiership's physical style of play adding an intrinsic element he hadn't really experienced before.

It's safe to say he adapted quickly when he got the chance.

 

Yarmolenko could learn from the industriousness. He was only out there for 12 minutes, but he gave them the play that may ultimately prove to save their season.

He looked up to speed, but with David Moyes holding him out for so much of the match, perhaps management isn't yet convinced of his full return to fitness.

The Irons can only hope. They could use a Pulisic-style player, but then again, who couldn't?