Senegalese forward Nicolas Jackson scored twice, and Noni Madueke added another as Chelsea thrashed West Ham United 5-0 at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League on Sunday.
Jackson, who has recently come under scrutiny for his wastefulness, made it three goals in two games to take his season tally to 13 goals in 32 league matches, while Madueke, who is of Nigerian descent, made it five league goals in 20 matches.
Cole Palmer opened the scoring for Mauricio Pochettino’s side in the 15th minute, finding the bottom corner after receiving an inadvertent pass from Jackson, who got his fifth assist in the league this season. Palmer’s strike was his 21st league goal of the season, and the Chelsea youngster became just the third player in Premier League history to reach 30+ goal involvements in a single season while aged 21 or younger.
30 – One day before his 22nd birthday, Cole Palmer has become only the third player in Premier League history to reach 30+ goal involvements in a single season while aged 21 or younger (21 goals, 9 assists), after Robbie Fowler (94-95 & 95-96) and Chris Sutton (93-94). Prodigy. pic.twitter.com/qYebfoGEan
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 5, 2024
Less than two minutes later, West Ham were close to leveling the scores, but Jarrod Bowen’s header from a corner was denied by the crossbar.
Rather, it was the home side that doubled their lead through Connor Gallagher on the half-hour mark. The English midfielder found the bottom corner after Kurt Zouma’s clearance fell for him perfectly inside the box.
Chelsea looked in the mood, and they soon made it three through Madueke, who nodded home from close range after Thiago Silva’s initial header found him unmarked.
Five 🌟 Chelsea.#CFC | #CheWhu pic.twitter.com/Q9jIHVh7h3
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) May 5, 2024
The Blues scored again within three minutes of the second half restart, and this time, it was Madueke who provided Jackson with the assist. Trevor Chalobah’s through pass pierced the Hammers’ defense, putting Chelsea No. 11 through a goal, but he laid it off for Jackson, who tapped it in for one of the easiest goals he would ever score in his career.
Jackson completed his brace in the 80th minute, slotting the ball past Alphonso Areola after being put through one-on-one with the French goalkeeper thanks to a sublime defense-splitting pass from Moises Caicedo.
Chelsea got their ninth win in 11 home games at the Bridge, making it six consecutive games unbeaten at home since losing to Wolves in February. West Ham, on the other hand, are winless in four straight league games, and they conceded five goals for the second time in three games.
The win helps Pochettino’s men leapfrog Manchester United into seventh place in the Premier League standings, with the Red Devils due to play Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Monday.
