Fabregas penalty rescues draw for Chelsea

Chelsea 2 West Ham 2

A late penalty from Cesc Fabregas prevented a first league defeat for Guus Hiddink and slowed West Ham’s hunt for a Champions League place.

Manuel Lanzini’s superb curling effort from the edge of the box had given West Ham a 17th-minute lead, but Fabregas’ similarly well-placed free-kick cancelled it out in first-half injury time.

Andy Carroll scored with virtually his first touch after coming on which looked to have earned the Hammers a rare league double over their rivals.

But with two minutes remaining, Michail Antonio caught the heels of Blues substitute Ruben Loftus-Cheek just inside the box and Fabregas coolly dispatched the spot-kick.

Lanzini had given West Ham a perfect start when he picked up a loose ball 20 yards from goal and planted a brilliant shot beyond the dive of Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois.

But the Blues levelled just seconds before half-time as Fabregas whipped home a free-kick from the edge of the box.

In a frantic second half, Oscar should have done better than to steer a Branislav Ivanovic cross wide while at the other end, Aaron Cresswell’s cross-cum-shot struck the bar.

Shortly after West Ham keeper Adrian had saved from Loic Remy, West Ham countered and regained the lead. Dimitri Payet threaded a pass for substitute Carroll, and he shot low past Courtois at his near post.

As Chelsea piled forward in search of an equaliser, Fabregas and John Terry both went close, but Carroll continued to cause problems and he had a header cleared off the line by Bertrand Traore.

Just as Chelsea appeared to be running out of time, and ideas, Loftus-Cheek was fouled – with replays seemingly indicating it was right on the edge of the box – and Fabregas resuced Hiddink’s unbeaten domestic record.