Pulisic's Late Winner Against West Ham

On This Day in 2022, the Winger Came Off the Bench to Snatch the Late Winner, Helping Chelsea Secure Third Place

After the highs of Champions League glory in 2021—when he became the first American to play in a UEFA Champions League Final—Christian Pulisic's 2021-22 campaign had been marked by inconsistency and challenges. His season had begun promisingly with a goal in Chelsea's Premier League opener against Crystal Palace. Still, a positive COVID-19 test and a subsequent ankle injury sidelined him until November, disrupting his momentum.

The American had shown flashes of his quality throughout the season—scoring the equalizer in a January draw against Liverpool and netting in both legs of Chelsea's Champions League last-16 triumph over Lille. But like Chelsea's overall campaign, Pulisic's performances had been marked by brilliance interspersed with periods of frustration.

Chelsea themselves had experienced a rollercoaster season. After starting strongly and leading the Premier League from October to early December, their form faltered through winter. By April, the Blues found themselves in a precarious position. Their Champions League title defense had ended with a valiant but ultimately unsuccessful quarter-final against Real Madrid, where they had won 3-2 at the Santiago Bernabéu but lost 5-4 on aggregate. Their recent home form was more concerning—three consecutive Stamford Bridge defeats had seen them concede 11 goals, including a disappointing 4-2 loss to Arsenal just four days before West Ham's visit on April 24.

With uncertainty surrounding the club's ownership following sanctions against Roman Abramovich and news that defensive stalwart Antonio Rüdiger would depart at season's end, Chelsea arrived at Stamford Bridge desperately needing stability. Meanwhile, West Ham focused on their upcoming Europa League semi-final against Eintracht Frankfurt, with David Moyes resting six key players, including Declan Rice, Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio.

The match itself was tense and largely uninspiring. Chelsea dominated possession but struggled to create clear-cut chances in a lackluster first half that produced no shots on target until nearly the hour mark. The home fans grew increasingly restless, urging their team forward with more urgency against West Ham's disciplined defensive block, expertly marshaled by veteran Mark Noble.

Both sides were more intense in the second half. Chelsea's Timo Werner had several attempts blocked by Craig Dawson, while N'Golo Kanté and Trevoh Chalobah forced saves from Lukasz Fabianski. As the match entered its final stages, Thomas Tuchel made a triple substitution with 76 minutes played, bringing on Romelu Lukaku, Hakim Ziyech and Pulisic to inject fresh energy into his side's attack.

The change nearly paid immediate dividends when Lukaku slipped through on goal and was pulled back by Dawson. After a VAR review, referee Michael Oliver upgraded his initial yellow card to a red, reducing West Ham to ten men. When Jorginho—who had converted his previous 13 penalties—stepped up to take the spot kick in the 87th minute, it seemed confident Chelsea would break the deadlock. But Fabianski easily gathered his tame, under-hit effort, and the groans around Stamford Bridge suggested another disappointing home result was imminent.

Pulisic, however, had other ideas. With just 90 seconds of normal time remaining, Mason Mount desperately carried the ball forward and found Marcos Alonso on the left. The Spaniard's precise cutback found Pulisic, who had timed his run perfectly into the penalty area. With composure beyond the moment's tension, the American stroked a left-footed finish into the far corner, sending Stamford Bridge into eruption.

"I needed to come in and make a difference and show I want to be playing," Pulisic told Sky Sports afterward. "It feels good to be more secure in the top four. We need a win at home and it feels great in front of our fans."

The goal—Pulisic's fourth in the Premier League that season—carried significance beyond the immediate three points. It ended Chelsea's dismal home run and provided a crucial confidence boost heading into the season's final weeks. Thomas Tuchel was visibly relieved at the final whistle, acknowledging that the win was "needed to release the pressure and tension" surrounding the club.

The victory pushed Chelsea five points clear of fourth-placed Arsenal with a game in hand, virtually securing their Champions League qualification for the following season. Though the remaining weeks would bring further challenges—a goalless FA Cup final defeat on penalties to Liverpool and dropped points against Wolves and Leicester—Chelsea ultimately finished third in the Premier League with 74 points.

For Pulisic, the winning goal against West Ham represented what he could provide at crucial moments—clinical finishing and match-winning quality off the bench. While his overall season might not have reached the heights of consistent brilliance, that 90th-minute strike exemplified why he remained an important figure in Chelsea's attacking options, capable of delivering when the stakes were highest.