Eberechi Eze scored a stunning goal and Dean Henderson made six crucial saves to help Crystal Palace secure a 1-1 draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Chelsea took the lead early in the match with a goal from Nicolas Jackson, but failed to add to their tally, allowing Palace to equalize in the second half.
As the international break approaches, Chelsea sits with four points, three behind the top four teams, while Palace’s first point of the season elevates them out of the relegation zone and into 16th place based on goal differential.
Despite Chelsea’s dominance, as evidenced by Cole Palmer creating five scoring opportunities, they could only convert one. Jackson was active but missed further chances. Joao Felix and Mykhailo Mudryk provided decent performances off the bench, but Chelsea lacked the firepower to secure a win.
For Crystal Palace, Eze’s exceptional strike along with Henderson’s impressive goalkeeping showcased their potential to escape relegation. Oliver Glasner will hope that new signings can quickly integrate and support the existing squad.
Looking ahead, both teams will take a break before Chelsea faces Bournemouth and Palace hosts Leicester City.
The match highlights included Eze’s goal, where he received a pass from Cheick Doucoure and fired in a beautiful shot from outside the box, sending Chelsea’s goalkeeper scrambling.
In the first half, Chelsea controlled the game, with Jackson scoring from a well-placed low cross by Palmer after some effective build-up play. Henderson’s performance, including a crucial save from Noni Madueke, kept Palace in the match.
Pre-match, both teams were missing key players, with Chelsea without Reece James and Palace missing Matheus Franca. Palace’s Marc Guehi remained with the club despite transfer interest.
The final score remained 1-1, reflecting a fierce London derby where both teams had their moments but ultimately settled for a draw.