Chelsea were held to a 1-1 draw by Crystal Palace, thanks to a stunning second-half strike from Eberechi Eze. The match, which featured moments of brilliance from both teams, ended in frustration for Enzo Maresca’s side, who dominated the first half but failed to secure all three points.
Chelsea started the match on the front foot, with Cole Palmer and Noni Madueke posing constant threats to the Crystal Palace defense. The Blues were determined to build on their recent Premier League form, which included a 6-0 thrashing of Wolves. Maresca’s men looked sharp and cohesive, moving the ball quickly and creating chances from the outset.
The breakthrough came in the 25th minute when a Palace defensive error allowed Chelsea to launch a swift counter-attack. Marc Guehi’s ill-advised forward run left a gap at the back, which Chelsea exploited with precision. Madueke led the charge, feeding Palmer, who delivered a perfect low cross into the six-yard box. Nicolas Jackson was on hand to tap the ball into the net, giving Chelsea a well-deserved lead.
Chelsea’s dominance continued throughout the first half, with the team creating 1.79 worth of expected goals (xG). Madueke nearly doubled the lead with a powerful volley that was brilliantly tipped onto the crossbar by Palace’s goalkeeper, Dean Henderson.
However, the second half saw a resurgence from Crystal Palace, sparked by the introduction of Cheick Doucouré. Palace began to press higher up the pitch, disrupting Chelsea’s rhythm and creating opportunities of their own. Their efforts paid off in the 53rd minute when Eberechi Eze produced a moment of magic to level the score.
After a blocked shot from Doucouré, the ball fell to Eze on the edge of the box. The England international, with remarkable composure, curled a sublime shot into the top corner, leaving Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez with no chance. It was Eze’s fifth goal from outside the box in 2024, putting him level with Manchester City’s Phil Foden for the most long-range goals this year.
The equalizer shifted the momentum in Palace’s favor, and the visitors began to believe they could snatch a win. Kamada’s powerful drive forced a fumble from Sanchez, and Eze had another shot blocked as Palace piled on the pressure.
Maresca responded by making several substitutions, including the introductions of Joao Felix, Mykhailo Mudryk, and Christopher Nkunku, in an attempt to regain control of the match. Chelsea pressed hard in the final stages, with Jackson missing two golden opportunities in stoppage time. The forward first hit the side-netting with a shot he should have buried, and moments later, he was denied one-on-one by the outstanding Henderson.
Despite Chelsea’s efforts, they were unable to break down a resolute Palace defense, and the match ended in a stalemate. The result means Chelsea remain just three points ahead of Crystal Palace in the Premier League standings, with the Blues in 11th place and Palace moving up to 16th after securing their first point of the season.
Enzo Maresca expressed disappointment at the missed opportunities but was pleased with his team’s overall performance. “We controlled the game well in the first half and created enough chances to win,” Maresca said. “It’s frustrating not to come away with three points, but the direction is the correct one. If we continue to play like this, the wins will come.”
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner, meanwhile, was delighted with his team’s resilience and the impact of Doucouré. “It’s an absolutely positive point given the circumstances,” Glasner commented. “We were up against it in the first half, but the team showed great spirit and belief to come back. Eze’s goal was fantastic, and we could have even won it late on.”