Crystal Palace managed to avoid a 14th consecutive Premier League defeat against Chelsea by securing a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge. This result marked the first draw between these two teams since 1995.
Chelsea’s Early Dominance and First-Half Goal
With the transfer window now closed, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca aimed to get the best out of his newly assembled squad.
The Blues started the match strong, showcasing their dominance early on. Cole Palmer came close to opening the scoring with a curling shot just wide of the post within the first 15 minutes.
Noni Madueke then squandered two clear chances, firing wide from close range and later being denied by Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson.
Chelsea’s pressure paid off in the 25th minute with a well-executed team move.
Madueke skillfully got past Will Hughes on the right flank and set up Palmer, who delivered a precise pass to Nicolas Jackson.
Jackson tapped the ball into the unguarded net, giving Chelsea a deserved lead. Palace, on the other hand, offered little threat in the first half, needing a tactical shift to get back into the game.
Eberechi Eze’s Magic Rescues a Point for Palace
After the break, Crystal Palace showed noticeable improvement. Despite Henderson’s heroics in stopping Palmer’s free-kick, the visitors equalized nine minutes into the second half.
Eberechi Eze found himself with time and space on the edge of the box and curled a beautiful strike into the corner, leaving Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sánchez with no chance.
⚽️ 53' Eberechi Eze scores!
Chelsea 1-1 Crystal Palace#CHECRY https://t.co/405fdzGcmk pic.twitter.com/wly1MXcxHD
— Whispering (@iam_whispering) September 1, 2024
Chelsea responded by bringing on Mykhailo Mudryk to replace the injured Malo Gusto, but the Ukrainian struggled to make an impact.
Chelsea’s forward line failed to capitalize on their opportunities, with Jackson missing two chances in stoppage time. Palace nearly snatched a late winner through Daichi Kamada, but Sánchez was able to deny his effort.
The draw was a welcome relief for Palace, earning their first point of the season after back-to-back defeats. For Chelsea, the result was a missed opportunity to secure all three points despite their early dominance.
