Eberechi Eze’s stunning goal and Dean Henderson’s six crucial saves helped Crystal Palace secure a surprising 1-1 draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Nicolas Jackson opened the scoring for Chelsea early in the match, but the Blues failed to add a second goal to please their home crowd during this London derby.
As Chelsea heads into the international break, they sit on four points, three behind the top four teams, while Palace’s first point of the season lifts them out of the relegation zone, placing them in 16th based on goal differential.
Despite the expectation of a stronger performance, Chelsea could only convert one of the numerous opportunities created, with Cole Palmer credited with five chances but only setting up Jackson’s early goal. Palmer excelled in midfield, while Pedro Neto and Noni Madueke struggled to convert their chances. Jackson had the potential for multiple goals, but Chelsea fans are all too familiar with missed opportunities. Meanwhile, Joao Felix and Mykhailo Mudryk added some energy off the bench, yet their contributions were not enough to push Chelsea into the top four.
Crystal Palace has had a tough start, earning just one point from three London derbies. However, Eze’s sensational equalizer and Henderson’s impressive goalkeeping indicate they have players capable of steering the team away from relegation, provided new signings such as Maxence Lacroix, Eddie Nketiah, and Trevor Chalobah can integrate well with existing talents like Adam Wharton and Marc Guehi.
Looking ahead, Chelsea will face Bournemouth on September 14 at 3:30 PM ET, while Crystal Palace will host Leicester City at the same time. Both teams will also compete in the League Cup, with Palace traveling to QPR and Chelsea hosting Barrow.
In other highlights, Eze’s equalizer came after a well-timed play where he struck from outside the box, leaving Chelsea’s goalkeeper Robert Sanchez grasping at thin air. The match had its share of tension, including a close call for Palace’s Will Hughes, who received a yellow card for a foul but escaped further punishment.
With Chelsea dominating possession and opportunities, the first half ended 1-0 in favor of the Blues. Their control seemed solid, yet they were unable to convert more chances, leading to a tightly contested match that ultimately resulted in a draw.