Javier Hernandez scored his ninth goal against Chelsea on Sunday to seal West Ham an invaluable point at Stamford Bridge and netting past the Blues has been a recurring theme throughout the Mexican poacher’s career.
In fact, no club in Europe has conceded more Chicharito goals than the west London outfit, and it’s likely no club has conceded more Hernandez goals from the bench either – having entered the fray on the 69th minute, Sunday’s strike was his fifth substitute goal against Chelsea.
And it’s a trend that started with Hernandez’s very first competitive appearance in European football, following a move from Guadalajara to Manchester United in summer 2010. He came on at half time in the curtain raiser for the 2010/11 season, the Community Shield final, and netted a header just half an hour later to mark his first goal for the Red Devils – and his first against Chelsea.
Since then, Hernandez has scored against Chelsea in all five of his full Premier League seasons to date, four for the Red Devils – even during David Moyes’ dreaded 2013/14 campaign – and once for the Hammers. Equally impressively, the 100-cap striker has only ever lost two games in which he’s scored past Chelsea across all competitions, even though his overall win rate against the Blues is a somewhat more modest 43%.
There have been goals in cup competitions too; the opening strike in the 2013 FA Cup quarter-final, which Chelsea won in the replay after drawing 2-2, and a goal and an assist in a League Cup meeting during the same season – although the Blues went on to win once again, this time in an entertaining 5-4 at Stamford Bridge.
Along the way, Hernandez’s goals against Chelsea have lead to eight points gained over the west Londoners in the Premier League, while two of his goals have been game-winning goals, defined as goals that put his side into a lead that is eventually held onto although potentially increased. One of those was the Community Shield strike, while the other came in 2012/13 when United won the title, Chicharito scoring a 75th minute winner at Stamford Bridge.
It remains to be seen what path Hernandez’s career will take next, having struggled to hold down a starting berth at the London Stadium this season.
It wouldn’t be too surprising if the goal on Sunday poignantly proved to be his last in the Premier League, book-ending his career in English football with goals against the Blues. But one thing is abundantly clear; should Hernandez stay at West Ham or join another Premier League side this summer, he’s one man Chelsea will fear at least twice per season.
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