West Ham United Left Frustrated by VAR Controversy in 2-1 Defeat to Chelsea
West Ham United fell to a frustrating 2-1 defeat against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on February 3, 2025, in a match that was overshadowed by a controversial equalizing goal. The Hammers took the lead in the first half through the returning Jarrod Bowen but were undone by a Pedro Neto strike and a late own goal from Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Bowen Returns in Style
West Ham boss Graham Potter, returning to Stamford Bridge for the first time since his Chelsea tenure ended in April 2023, set his team up well, and they took the lead in the first half. Bowen, playing for the first time since sustaining an injury against Liverpool in December, made an immediate impact. The England international pounced on a defensive error from Levi Colwill, calmly slotting the ball past Chelsea goalkeeper Đorđe Petrović to give the Hammers a deserved lead.
Bowen’s sharpness and goal-scoring instinct were a welcome boost for West Ham, who had struggled for attacking fluency in his absence. Chelsea, on the other hand, looked lackluster in the opening half and failed to create many clear-cut chances despite dominating possession.
VAR Controversy: Chelsea’s Equaliser Under Scrutiny
The major talking point of the match arrived in the second half when Chelsea found their equalizer through Pedro Neto. The goal, however, sparked outrage among West Ham players and fans, with many feeling that it should have been disallowed for offside.
In the build-up to Neto’s goal, Chelsea’s Marc Guiu appeared to be in an offside position and seemed to make contact with the ball before it fell to Neto, who finished clinically past Alphonse Areola. West Ham players immediately appealed for offside, but after a VAR review, the goal was given.
The Premier League later issued a statement clarifying that the goal was allowed because “there was no factual evidence that Guiu made contact with the ball in the build-up, therefore there was no offside offence.”
Despite this explanation, multiple replays suggested that Guiu did make slight contact with his head, which would have meant an offside decision. West Ham fans were left furious, feeling that another VAR decision had gone against them in a crucial moment.
Chelsea’s Winner: More Misfortune for West Ham
As the game wore on, Chelsea pushed for a winner, and West Ham defended resolutely. However, their luck ran out when Aaron Wan-Bissaka, in an attempt to block a Cole Palmer cross, accidentally deflected the ball into his own net, leaving Areola helpless.
The own goal proved to be the decisive moment, and Chelsea held on for the win, leaving West Ham players dejected. Despite competing well for most of the match, they came away with nothing, and the frustration of the VAR decision only added to their disappointment.
Potter’s Verdict and West Ham’s Outlook
After the game, Graham Potter admitted his disappointment but remained positive about certain aspects of his team’s performance.
“I think we played well for large parts of the game,” Potter said in his post-match interview. “Jarrod [Bowen] was fantastic on his return, and we showed good character. The equalizer is frustrating because from our point of view, it looked offside, but we have to move on.”
West Ham, who have been inconsistent in recent weeks, will now look to bounce back in their upcoming fixtures. Despite the disappointment, the return of Bowen provides a significant boost, and they will hope to put this controversial defeat behind them.
As for Chelsea, the win lifts them further up the table, but their performance still left questions about their attacking fluidity. The Blues will be relieved to have secured the three points, even if the manner of their equalizer remains a major talking point.
West Ham will now regroup during their weekend break before focusing on their next challenge, as they aim to push for a strong finish to the season.