Noni Madueke won and converted a late penalty as Chelsea finally found a way past Crystal Palace in a 2-1 affair at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.
This London derby featured two teams struggling for form, and Chelsea looked set for a hard-luck draw after Michael Olise canceled out Mykhailo Mudryk’s early goal.
WATCH CHELSEA v CRYSTAL PALACE FULL MATCH REPLAY STREAM
VAR had other ideas, however, catching Eberechi Eze’s foul on Madueke and sending the former Palace academy kid to the spot, where he beat Dean Henderson.
The Blues were superior in play on the day, holding almost two-thirds possession while more than doubling Palace’s xG total. But it remains 1-1 for much of the game.
Crystal Palace are looking nervously over their shoulders after a run of eight Premier League matches without a win has them just three points ahead of 18th-place Luton Town, And the Hatters have a match-in-hand.
Blues rewarded for stubborn streak
Mauricio Pochettino’s men just kept knocking on the door until someone from Palace let them into the win column.
That was Eberechi Eze, whose hard luck effort to help a partial clearance all the way out of the zone caught Noni Madueke on the leg and helped the Chelsea youth to the spot.
But the Blues had created more than enough to have held the lead before that. Nicolas Jackson couldn’t chip a delightful Conor Gallagher entry on frame and then had a goal pulled off the board by VAR.
It wasn’t debatable that Chelsea had done enough to get a win by the time Madueke wrongfooted Henderson, and Pochettino really needed his men to be rewarded for their continued efforts at Stamford Bridge.
Come to think of it, the Bridge needed it, too, as the Blues now have three-straight home PL wins.
What’s next?
Chelsea’s off to Kenilworth Road to face Luton Town at 7:30am ET Saturday, just before Palace host fellow strugglers Brentford at 10am..
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace final score: 2-1
Goal: Mudryk (13'), Olise (45+2'), Madueke (pen 89')
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace player ratings
(from fotmob.com)
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace player ratings (fotmob.com)
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace player ratings (fotmob.com)
Noni Madueke goal: VAR sends Blues to the spot
Noni Madueke is cut down inside the box by Eberechi Eze and there’s a VAR review underway following Crystal Palace’s ill-fated counter attack.
A pitchside monitor review confirms a fairly obvious foul.
Madueke steps to the spot... and sends Dean Henderson the wrong way.
Nicolas Jackson goal disallowed by VAR
It had been just over a minute since Nicolas Jackson missed a really good chance to make it 2-1, and this time he came even closer to going on the score sheet.
Jackson initially appears to beat the line to poke a deflected cross inside the near post.
But VAR review shows that Jackson followed Armando Broja’s offside lead to just beat the line.
Still 1-1.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace halftime: 1-1
The Blues have had more possession (63%) and the better of the danger but are level after Olise’s wonderful technical goal just before the break.
The Blues have taken six of the game’s 11 shots and put three on frame.
Malo Gusto, Christopher Nkunku and Mykhailo Mudryk have been driving Chelsea’s attack, while Chris Richards and Joachim Andersen are big parts of Palace’s share.
Michael Olise goal: Palace level it before half
USMNT star Chris Richards makes a strong tackle to win back the ball in the Chelsea third, his second big intervention of the game.
Jordan Ayew then cuts a cross from the left to the back post.
Michael Olise is there, and his chest trap is perfect in setting up his laser finish.
Mykhailo Mudryk goal (video)!
It’s quickfire, and it’s led by Malo Gusto.
He carries down and across the pitch, finding Christopher Nkunku and getting a return ball on the left.
Gusto sends a ball toward the six and Mykhailo Mudryk turns it past Dean Henderson for 1-0.
How to watch Chelsea vs Crystal Palace live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 2:30 pm ET, Wednesday (December 27)
TV Channel: Peacock
Online: Stream via Peacock Premium
Chelsea lineup
Introducing our starting XI...
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 27, 2023
🇫🇷 A first start for Nkunku.
🇪🇨 Caicedo returns.
🇳🇱 Maatsen is in from the off.@ParimatchUK | #CFC | #CheCry pic.twitter.com/qPe12VXud7
Crystal Palace lineup
Your Palace XI to take on Chelsea 🦅#CPFC | #CHECRY
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) December 27, 2023
Chelsea focus, team news
With so many injuries, Pochettino has struggled to find the right balance in his team. Broja looked lively early on last time out against Wolves but Sterling and Jackson couldn’t find their composure at the right time as big chances came and went. That has been the story of Chelsea’s season. However, Christopher Nkunku is back fit and scored against Wolves.
OUT: Ben Chilwell (hamstring), Wesley Fofana (torn ACL), Carney Chukwuemeka (knee), Trevoh Chalobah (thigh), Reece James (thigh), Robert Sanchez (knee), Marc Cucurella (ankle), Raheem Sterling (suspension), Cole Palmer (suspension), Enzo Fernandez (hamstring), Lesley Ugochukwu (hamstring) | QUESTIONABLE: Moises Caicedo (illness)
Crystal Palace focus, team news
Defensively Palace are missing some big players and USMNT star Chris Richards has been doing a decent job in holding midfield and could play there for the rest of the season with Doucoure out.
OUT: Odsonne Edouard (knee), Rob Holding (ankle), Cheick Doucoure (achilles - out for season), Sam Johnstone (calf), Joel Ward (hamstring)
