28/09/2002  Chelsea 2 West Ham 3
 
Football genius Paolo di Canio scored arguably the best goal of his career today as rock-bottom West Ham bagged a sensational 3-2 victory at Chelsea.

The gifted Italian striker stunned Stamford Bridge four minutes into the second half when he cheekily played keep-ups 30 yards from the Blues goal - then blasted a scorching volley past Carlo Cudicini.

This thrilling victory, secured by di Canio's second goal five minutes from time, takes the pressure off Hammers boss Glenn Roeder.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink fired Claudio Ranieri's men in front from the penalty spot in the 22nd minute, after Scott Minto tugged Robert Huth's shirt in the box.

Jermain Defoe levelled five minutes before the break, thanks to the slack Blues marking which allowed him to poke home Carlo Cudicini's parry from a yard out.

And it was di Canio's 49th-minute strike which provided the moment of the season so far from the struggling Hammers.

The Blues levelled at 2-2 in the 75th minute when Gianfranco Zola curled his brilliant free-kick over the defensive wall and into the top left corner.

But another Blues backline blunder allowed di Canio to snatch possession five minutes from time - and the Italian beat Cudicini from a tight angle.

John Terry was on the bench today after his summer knee operation and court appearances.

West Ham suffered an early blow when Frederic Kanoute limped off injured after just five minutes.

The French striker fell in a heap after Robert Huth's challenge - and after two minutes' treatment on an upper thigh problem, he left the field and was replaced by Defoe.

Roeder's men nearly took the lead with 17 minutes on the clock.

Di Canio's crafty reverse pass fed Sebastien Schemmel on the right - and Trevor Sinclair met his cross with a spectacular waist-high volley which Carlo Cudicini brilliantly fingertipped away.

But it was Chelsea who went 1-0 up, through Hasselbaink's penalty - his first league goal of the season.

Scott Minto tugged Huth's shirt as the centre-back leapt to meet Boudewijn Zenden's free-kick - and referee Mike Dean answered Chelsea's appeals by pointing to the spot.

Hasselbaink sent James the wrong way from 12 yards, smacking the ball into the bottom left corner.

Cudicini kept his side in front with a great save from Michael Carrick, back in the side in place of Edouard Cisse.

And West Ham made Chelsea pay for terrible marking in the 40th minute, with Defoe bundling the ball home for his first goal of the season.

Sinclair and Steve Lomas were both left free to clip Di Canio's corner goalwards - and when Cudicini parried, Defoe beat Mario Melchiot to the ball and poked home from a            Four minutes after the interval, Hammers ace Di Canio produced his moment of absolute magic, smashing a sensational 30-yard volley into the net for one of the goals of the season.

The gifted Italian collected a throw-in five yards from the right touchline, raced 10 yards towards goal while flicking the ball in the air with his right foot - and amazingly belted it past Cudicini with his left boot.

Hasselbaink was a foot away from hauling his team level in the 63rd minute.

The Dutchman pulled the trigger 22 yards from goal - but his powerful strike skidded just past James' right-hand post.

Claudio Ranieri played his trump card at the half-way point of the second period, introducing Gianfranco Zola for Zenden.

It was all Chelsea now - and James had to be at his very best to keep his side in front.

First, he raced from goal to block Melchiot's close-range shot - and then came up with one of the saves of the season to deny Hasselbaink.

The Dutchman rose to head Gronkjaer's cross towards the top right corner, but James somehow stretched to claw the ball onto the outside of his post.

However, the England goalkeeper was helpless to stop Zola's magnificent 25-yard free-kick which levelled the score at 2-2 with 15 minutes left.

Minto fouled the veteran Italian and he dusted himself down to curl the free-kick over the defensive wall and into the top left corner.

But West Ham hit back again, with Cudicini pushing away Tomas Repka's sweet volley - and Stanic blocking Gary Breen's goalbound far-post header.

And the Hammers stormed into the lead once again with just five minutes left, thanks to more Blues defensive woes.

Melchiot and William Gallas bumped into each other and allowed Di Canio to pounce on a loose ball - and fire past Cudicini from an acute angle.