Eberechi Eze scored an impressive goal and Dean Henderson made six crucial saves, helping Crystal Palace secure a surprising 1-1 draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Nicolas Jackson had given Chelsea an early lead, but they couldn’t find a second goal in this London derby. As a result, Chelsea ends the international break with four points, leaving them three points shy of the top four, while Palace’s first points of the season lift them out of the relegation zone and into 16th place based on goal differential.
Despite Cole Palmer creating five scoring opportunities, Chelsea only managed to convert one, with Jackson’s early tap-in being the highlight. Palmers’ performance in midfield was commendable, but Pedro Neto and Noni Madueke struggled to make an impact on the flanks. Jackson had several chances to add to his tally, but Chelsea fans have become all too familiar with missed opportunities. Joao Felix and Mykhailo Mudryk provided decent contributions off the bench, yet it wasn’t enough to improve their standing.
Crystal Palace has only managed to secure a single point from their three London derbies this season, which is disappointing. However, Eberechi Eze’s remarkable goal and Henderson’s standout performance suggest they may have the potential to escape relegation if manager Oliver Glasner can quickly integrate new signings Maxence Lacroix, Eddie Nketiah, and Trevor Chalobah alongside key players like Adam Wharton and Marc Guehi.
Looking ahead, Chelsea will next face Bournemouth at 3:30 PM ET on September 14, with Palace hosting Leicester City at the same time. Both clubs will also be involved in League Cup matches, with Palace travelling to QPR and Chelsea hosting Barrow.
In the match highlights, Eze’s equalizer came in the 54th minute when he skillfully curled a shot into the bottom corner from outside the box. Chelsea had initially taken the lead in the 25th minute through a well-constructed move ending with a tap-in by Jackson. Despite their dominance in terms of shots on goal, Chelsea couldn’t capitalize on their opportunities, while Henderson made pivotal saves to keep Palace in the game.
Both teams face injury challenges, with Chelsea missing Reece James and Crystal Palace without Matheus Franca and Chadi Riad. Manchester United’s Matt Turner, while on loan from Nottingham Forest, did not serve as a substitute due to late arrival.
Amidst the drama, Chelsea’s attempt at breaking down a more defensively-oriented Palace proved challenging, leading to this competitive draw.