Crystal Palace Deepens Chelsea's Slump
Jean-Philippe Mateta salvaged a point for Crystal Palace with a late goal to secure a 1-1 draw against Chelsea at Selhurst Park. The result dealt another blow to Enzo Maresca’s side, who remain mired in a slump that sees them slipping further away from the Premier League summit.
Chelsea Starts Strong But Fades
Chelsea opened the match with confidence and took the lead in the 14th minute through Cole Palmer, who finished brilliantly following an excellent run and cross from Jadon Sancho down the left flank. The visitors dominated the first half but failed to capitalize on their chances to extend the lead.
Nicolas Jackson, Josh Acheampong, and Palmer all had clear opportunities to score but lacked precision in front of goal. Despite their control, Chelsea’s attacking momentum began to wane, allowing Crystal Palace, led by the creative efforts of Eberechi Eze, to grow into the game. Only the heroics of goalkeeper Robert Sánchez kept Chelsea ahead going into halftime.
The second half saw a disjointed Chelsea attack unable to respond to Palace’s growing intensity. Palace, struggling with just one win in their previous four matches, capitalized on Chelsea’s lack of urgency.
In the 82nd minute, a sloppy turnover from Chelsea gave Palace the chance they needed. Ismaïla Sarr delivered a perfect cross to Eze, whose deft assist set up Jean-Philippe Mateta to slot home past Sánchez and level the score.
Chelsea’s Struggles Continue
This result marks four consecutive Premier League matches without a win for Chelsea, including two draws and two losses. Just weeks ago, the team had been riding a nine-game winning streak that positioned them as Liverpool’s primary challengers for the title. Now, they sit fourth in the table, clinging to a slim one-point lead over Newcastle, with their Champions League qualification hopes under threat.
For Crystal Palace, the draw feels like a victory. Sitting 15th in the table and five points above the relegation zone, the result provides a much-needed morale boost and bolsters their survival hopes.
