Match ends, Chelsea 2, West Ham United 0.
Chelsea 2-0 West Ham United: Eden Hazard double sends Blues third
- From the section Premier League
Eden Hazard scored one of the goals of the Premier League season as Chelsea beat West Ham to climb above Tottenham and Arsenal into third spot in the race for a Champions League place.
Hazard, who has been strongly linked with a move to Real Madrid this summer, evaded five players during a stunning run, before the Belgium forward calmly beat keeper Lukasz Fabianski.
He added a late second goal to cap a magnificent individual performance in an entertaining game.
Gonzalo Higuain hit a post, while Hazard was denied a penalty after what looked like a foul by Marko Arnautovic, with Argentine midfielder Manuel Lanzini going closest for West Ham with a shot which was beaten away by Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Chelsea, who can still qualify for next season's Champions League by winning the Europa League, are three points ahead of fifth-placed Arsenal, who have a game in hand, after a third successive league win.
The Hammers remain 11th after a third defeat in four league games.
Will Hazard be at Chelsea next season?
On a day fresh reports circulated about Hazard moving to Spain's capital, the 28-year-old produced a breathless performance to show why he is one of Europe's best forwards.
He was outstanding from start to finish against the West Ham, inspiring his side to an 11th top-flight win at Stamford Bridge this season.
In the space of a few first-half minutes, Hazard scored his 15th - and arguably best - league goal of the season, produced a wonderful pass which saw Higuain hit a post, and appeared to be fouled by Austria forward Arnautovic inside West Ham's penalty area.
To the bewilderment of Hazard and Chelsea, referee Chris Kavanagh waved away the home side's appeals.
Hazard's opening goal was beautiful, the Chelsea player receiving the ball just inside the Hammers' half before using both feet during an unstoppable run which ended with the ball in the net.
His second, a powerful low finish, sealed a deserved win for Maurizio Sarri's side.
Hazard's contract expires in the summer of 2020 and Blues fans will hope the club do not cash in on their prize asset after Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane admitted he has "always appreciated" the Chelsea player.
With the London club hit with a Fifa transfer ban preventing them from signing players until the end of January 2020, Chelsea would have to wait to spend any money if they did decide to sell Hazard.
What's next?
Chelsea are back in action as early as Thursday when they travel to face Slavia Prague in the Europa League quarter-final first leg (20:00 BST kick-off), while West Ham are at Manchester United in the Premier League on Saturday (17:30).
More to follow.
Line-ups
Chelsea
- 1ArrizabalagaBooked at 84mins
- 28AzpilicuetaBooked at 82mins
- 2Rüdiger
- 30David Luiz
- 33Emerson
- 7Kanté
- 5Jorginho
- 12Loftus-CheekSubstituted forBarkleyat 70'minutes
- 20Hudson-OdoiSubstituted forPedroat 85'minutes
- 9HiguaínSubstituted forGiroudat 76'minutes
- 10E Hazard
Substitutes
- 8Barkley
- 11Pedro
- 13Caballero
- 17Kovacic
- 18Giroud
- 22Willian
- 27Christensen
West Ham
- 1Fabianski
- 24Fredericks
- 4Balbuena
- 21OgbonnaBooked at 11mins
- 3Cresswell
- 41Rice
- 16NobleSubstituted forObiangat 70'minutes
- 7Arnautovic
- 10Lanzini
- 8Felipe Anderson
- 17HernándezSubstituted forSnodgrassat 45'minutes
Substitutes
- 11Snodgrass
- 13Adrián
- 14Obiang
- 18Nasri
- 23Diop
- 26Masuaku
- 27Pérez
- Referee:
- Chris Kavanagh
Match Stats
Home TeamChelseaAway TeamWest Ham
- Possession
- Home54%
- Away46%
- Shots
- Home16
- Away9
- Shots on Target
- Home7
- Away2
- Corners
- Home7
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home8
- Away7
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Chelsea 2, West Ham United 0.
Goal!
Goal! Chelsea 2, West Ham United 0. Eden Hazard (Chelsea) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Ross Barkley.
Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Lukasz Fabianski.
Attempt saved. Olivier Giroud (Chelsea) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ross Barkley.
Substitution
Substitution, Chelsea. Pedro replaces Callum Hudson-Odoi.
Booking
Kepa Arrizabalaga (Chelsea) is shown the yellow card.
Attempt missed. Fabián Balbuena (West Ham United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high following a corner.
Attempt blocked. Angelo Ogbonna (West Ham United) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Robert Snodgrass with a cross.
Corner, West Ham United. Conceded by Emerson.
Attempt blocked. Marko Arnautovic (West Ham United) header from the right side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Robert Snodgrass with a cross.
Booking
César Azpilicueta (Chelsea) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by César Azpilicueta (Chelsea).
Felipe Anderson (West Ham United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Attempt missed. César Azpilicueta (Chelsea) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Eden Hazard.
Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Aaron Cresswell.
Attempt missed. Ross Barkley (Chelsea) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Callum Hudson-Odoi.
Attempt missed. Declan Rice (West Ham United) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Felipe Anderson.
Substitution
Substitution, Chelsea. Olivier Giroud replaces Gonzalo Higuaín.
Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Angelo Ogbonna.
Attempt blocked. David Luiz (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Eden Hazard (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Fabián Balbuena (West Ham United).
Substitution
Substitution, Chelsea. Ross Barkley replaces Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
Substitution
Substitution, West Ham United. Pedro Obiang replaces Mark Noble.
Offside, Chelsea. Gonzalo Higuaín tries a through ball, but Callum Hudson-Odoi is caught offside.
Foul by David Luiz (Chelsea).
Manuel Lanzini (West Ham United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Attempt blocked. Manuel Lanzini (West Ham United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Felipe Anderson.
Corner, West Ham United. Conceded by Antonio Rüdiger.
Foul by César Azpilicueta (Chelsea).
Felipe Anderson (West Ham United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt saved. Eden Hazard (Chelsea) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Callum Hudson-Odoi.
Attempt missed. Aaron Cresswell (West Ham United) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right.
Offside, Chelsea. Kepa Arrizabalaga tries a through ball, but Eden Hazard is caught offside.
Attempt missed. Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Eden Hazard.
Attempt saved. Felipe Anderson (West Ham United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Attempt saved. Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Gonzalo Higuaín.
Corner, West Ham United. Conceded by Antonio Rüdiger.
Attempt saved. Manuel Lanzini (West Ham United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Marko Arnautovic.
