Eberechi Eze delivered a stunning equalizer as Crystal Palace held Chelsea to a draw at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues, who came off a commanding 6-2 victory over Wolves last week, dominated the first half. Cole Palmer narrowly missed the target, and Dean Henderson made a brilliant save to deny Noni Madueke before Nicolas Jackson broke the deadlock. Jackson finished off a swift Chelsea counterattack, slotting in Palmer’s cross at the near post.
Palace had a stroke of luck when Will Hughes, already on a yellow card, avoided further punishment for a foul on Palmer. However, the Eagles soon had cause to celebrate as Eze curled a fantastic shot beyond Robert Sanchez in the Chelsea goal.
Sanchez later pulled off an impressive save to keep out Daichi Kamada’s powerful drive, preventing Palace from taking the lead. Jackson had a chance to win it for Chelsea in stoppage time, but Henderson denied him with a crucial save.
The draw marked Crystal Palace’s first point of the season after suffering two consecutive losses, while Chelsea has collected four points from their first three matches.
A Summer of Change but Familiar Frustrations for Chelsea
Chelsea experienced another turbulent summer, with over £200 million spent, 13 new players brought in, and 37 players leaving either on loan or permanently. With the transfer window now closed, the Blues can finally focus on football.
Before the match, Chelsea unveiled their final summer signing, England forward Jadon Sancho, to the fans. However, only one new signing, former Wolves player Pedro Neto, made the starting lineup against Palace.
Initially, Chelsea seemed set to build on their big win against Wolves, but a combination of poor finishing and superb saves by Henderson meant they only had Jackson’s goal—his second of the season—to show for their first-half dominance.
Chelsea’s recurring issue of missed opportunities from last season reappeared, with Jackson squandering two late chances to seal the victory. He first hit the side-netting and then saw his shot saved by Henderson in a one-on-one situation.
Despite their promising win at Wolves, Chelsea is still searching for their first home victory of the 2024-25 season.
Eze the Difference-Maker Once Again
Last season, Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise were standout performers for Crystal Palace, with Olise earning a big summer move to Bayern Munich. Eze, however, continues to shine, once again proving to be the game-changer for Palace against Chelsea.
While Palace created few opportunities at Stamford Bridge, Eze made the most of his chance, expertly curling the ball beyond Sanchez’s reach. His goal shifted the momentum in Palace’s favor, with Eze playing a central role in their best moments.
Although Palace had opportunities to secure a win, a draw against a team they’ve historically struggled against—having lost their previous 13 encounters—is a positive outcome.
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