Chelsea 3 - 0 West Ham (1-0)

Lampard 44

Torres 84

Malouda 90+3

MATCH STATS

Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Ivanovic, David Luiz, Terry (c), Cole; Essien (Benayoun 56), Mikel, Lampard; Kalou (Anelka 69), Drogba (Torres 75), Malouda.

Unused subs Turnbull, Ferreira, Bertrand, Zhirkov.

Cards Ivanovic (yellow)

Goals Lampard, Torres, Malouda.

West Ham (4-3-3): Green (c); Jacobsen, Da Costa, Gabbidon, Bridge; Noble (Keane 59), Hitzlsperger, Sears (Obinna 81); Spector, Cole (Piquionne 78), Ba.

Unused subs Boffin, Tomkins, Kovac, Boa Morte.

Cards Hitzlsperger, Ba (yellow)

Shots on target Chelsea 8 West Ham 8

Corners Chelsea 7 West Ham 7

Fouls Chelsea 8 West Ham 13

Offsides Chelsea 3 West Ham 1

Referee Phil Dowd

Attendance 41,656

First Goal of Fernando Torres for Chelsea against West Ham United

Chelsea 3 West Ham 0 - Goals from Frank Lampard, Torres and Malouda

Chelsea 3 West Ham 0 - Match Highlights

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Fernando Torres netted his first goal in Chelsea colors as Chelsea thumped West Ham 3-0 at Stamford Bridge. The goal was long awaiting but no one doubted Nando, at least not anyone in Chelsea colors.

It wasn't just the win that people celebrated at Stamford Bridge or the Chelsea fans worldwide. It was the joy which erupted when Fernando Torres scored. It was great to see him score, he deserves it. But most important was the reaction of his team members, the support staff, Ancelotti and most importantly the crowds which went bezerk as soon as he scored his first goal (so did I, just couldn't help myself from shouting his name..it was all TORRES TORRES TORRES)

Starting Line up

Carlo Ancelotti made just one change for the game against West Ham with Ivanovic slotting in at right back position in place of Paulo Ferreira. Ancelotti had already made it clear that he wasnt going to make many changes as he wanted to keep his winning combination that recently overcame West Brom and Birmingham.

Chelsea started as 4-3-3 with Mikel, Lampard and Essien occupying the midfield positions. Drogba the lone strikers role with Malouda and Kalou flanking the wide positions.

Avram Grant's West Ham side also had the similar formation with Carlton Cole as the lone striker with Demba Ba and Spector on the wide positions. Robert Green took the captains armband in absence of defender Matthew Upson

FIRST HALF

Just before kick-off a heavy downpour started, what promised to be sunny outing soon became into heavy showers with thunder and lighting. Pitch bore the biggest impact of these incense rains as water started to gather up on the pitch.

Both teams began the first half on a bright note with chances at both ends. It was Freddie Sears who had the first chance for West Ham, only to be denied by Petr Cech. Chelsea should have scored early on when Malouda found himself one-on-one with Green only for the shot to be blocked. It was big miss.

As game went on chances fell for Ashley Cole, Malouda and Mikel to open the scoring for Chelsea but none were clear cut chances. Chelsea were slowly opening up and creating space on both flanks for Kalou and Malouda. Malouda again came close to netting first for Chelsea, initially forcing a deflection after shooting in front of goal and then drilling wide of the near post after dancing into the box.

Kalou then had a good chance but his first touch took the ball away before he could shoot, this came after a good one-two between him and Drogba. Drogba was looking lively with his skills and passes and was the centre point of all Chelsea moves.

If Malouda missed for Chelsea at the start then it was Spector who came very close to scoring a goal for West Ham. Cech was forced into an acrobatic save to push a diving header from Jonathan Spector wide, after the West Ham man launched himself onto a Freddie Sears cross.

West Ham now had gathered a little momentum and were knocking on the door, and it was Spector again who had Cech scrambling on the line to keep out his back heel off a corner.

With the first half whistle not that far off, it was Chelsea who opened the account. A superb pass from Drogba on the left, picking out a sprinting Ashley Cole who crossed the ball into the West Ham area which was met by Frank Lampard who smashed into the goal seven yards out and gave Chelsea a crucial 1-0 lead going into the break.

SECOND HALF

There were no changes on either side as the second-half got underway and Chelsea started the better side once again, Drogba this time forcing the first save of the half.

Rains which had stopped as the first half came to a close, started off once again. Pitch was soaked with water and it became difficult for players to pass. You could see the water flying off the ground as passes were made which eventually made the ball slow down.

West Ham came close to grab an equaliser, a Manuel Da Costa header off a West Ham corner was cleared off the line by John Obi Mikel.

Chelsea were the first to make a change with Yossi Benayoun coming in for injured Essien who pulled up in pain after collecting a David Luiz pass, he soon limped off with a knee injury.

West Ham also suffered the same fate when Noble's collision with Ivanovic saw him being replaced by Robbie Keane.

With just under 30 minutes left, Lampard nearly made it two, narrowly missing a Drogba ball right in front of goal. But had it not been for the water logged pitch it would have been a easy slot in for Frank, who shared a laugh with Green who saw the ball go in to his hands at a snails pace.

Frank Lampard was again in the picture this time testing Green with a long-range effort which was palmed away, only for Malouda to shoot into the side netting.

As the game entered into the final 20 odd minutes the Chelsea crowd grew a little edgy. Then came two chances, one at either end. First it was David Luiz who sent a shot ricocheting off the bar from 20 yards out. It was a brilliant effort from the centre back given the pitch conditions. From the counter-attack, Ba forced Cech to save from a similar distance before Keane drilled into the keeper's hands.

Ancelotti then brought Anelka and Torres in for Kalou and Drogba. Chelsea needed to get off the nerves as game neared to its end, needed a second goal. And almost produced one when Fernando Torres pulled the ball back for Anelka to shoot at a clear goal, only for Daniel Gabbidon to chase back and incredibly head away the danger.

Then came the decisive moment which saw the whole of Stamford Bridge burst out in jubilation. Fernando Torres scoring his first goal for Chelsea, a moment for which all Chelsea fans were waiting. A cute pass between West ham defenders leg saw Torres latch on to the ball who broke into the box and took the ball away from Robert Green, but saw the ball hold onto the wet pitch. Using his skills Torres drilled in his shot off his left foot pass Robert green and gave Chelsea a much needed 2-0 lead.

The goal sent out a wild celebration with all Chelsea players jumping on Torres and congratulating him for opening his account for Chelsea. With just six minuted to go, the entire atmosphere was electrifying.

It was not over yet for Torres and for Chelsea, Malouda latching onto a Torres pass which he smashed in just outside the box pass Robert green.This came late into stoppage time and it ended as 3-0 to Chelsea at the final whistle.

This win was not just another win but it marked quite a few important things, Torres scoring his first goal for Chelsea and three points for Chelsea which means the title race is still on and will go down the wire for sure.

Come on CHELSEA!!! KTBFFH.

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