Chelsea’s winless streak in the Premier League extends to four matches following a frustrating 1-1 draw at Selhurst Park.
Despite taking the lead early in the game, the Blues couldn’t hold on, with missed chances and a costly mistake ultimately costing them two points.
A Bright Start, But Chelsea Can’t Build on It
The match began promisingly for Chelsea, with a beautifully orchestrated move leading to their opening goal.
Jadon Sancho, who grew up in South London, seemed to tap into his roots with a creative assist.
A well-placed pass from Levi Colwill found Sancho, who cleverly let the ball roll past him, leaving his marker in the dust.
He then cut inside, and Cole Palmer was in the right place at the right time to score and give Chelsea a 1-0 lead.
It was a goal full of flair, with Sancho’s creativity and Palmer’s clinical finishing.
However, despite this early promise, Chelsea struggled to capitalize on their advantage.
Missed Opportunities Haunt Chelsea
Chelsea had numerous chances to extend their lead, but they failed to make the most of them.
Nicolas Jackson, in particular, squandered a simple volley, while Palmer couldn’t quite finish off a perfectly timed pass from Pedro Neto.
Acheampong, given his first Premier League start, should have scored from a corner but sent his header wide.
With each miss, the pressure mounted, and it was only a matter of time before Crystal Palace would make Chelsea pay.
Palace Takes Advantage of Chelsea’s Lapses
In the second half, Crystal Palace slowly grew into the game.
After Moises Caicedo committed a foul, Palace had a chance from a set piece, but Robert Sanchez saved Chris Richards’ header, keeping Chelsea’s lead intact.
However, the warning signs were there, and Chelsea couldn’t keep up the pressure.
In the 63rd minute, Chelsea had strong claims for a penalty when Neto was seemingly fouled by Tyrick Mitchell, but the referee waved it off. Chelsea’s inability to finish their chances started to become a real concern as the game wore on.
A Costly Mistake and a Heartbreaking Equalizer
Then, in the 82nd minute, disaster struck.
Palmer, who had earlier scored Chelsea’s goal, lost possession in midfield.
Palace capitalized with a quick counter, as Ismaila Sarr found Eberechi Eze, who unselfishly squared the ball to Jean-Philippe Mateta.
Mateta tapped it in, leveling the score at 1-1 and leaving Chelsea’s top-four hopes hanging by a thread.
Despite a late push, Chelsea couldn’t find a winner, and the match ended in a disappointing draw.
It’s now four games without a victory for Chelsea, and their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League look increasingly uncertain.
A Missed Opportunity for Manager Enzo Maresca
Manager Enzo Maresca had been hoping for a much-needed win to spark a turnaround in form.
He made some changes during the game, including bringing on Marc Guiu for his first Premier League minutes of the season, but it was too little too late.
With Chelsea failing to take advantage of their early lead and Palace capitalizing on a mistake, Maresca faces more pressure as the team’s struggles continue.
With games against tougher opposition looming, Chelsea’s form needs a serious improvement if they’re to compete for a top-four finish.
For now, the club is left wondering where things went wrong in yet another frustrating outing.
Match Summary
- Crystal Palace: 1-1 Chelsea
- Goal Scorers: Palmer (14’) for Chelsea, Mateta (82’) for Palace
- Chelsea’s Starting Lineup: Sanchez; Gusto, Acheampong, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Neto, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson
- Crystal Palace’s Starting Lineup: Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Doucoure, Lerma, Mitchell; Sarr, Mateta, Ezef