Chelsea continued their winning trend in the Premier League by beating Crystal Palace 3-2 at Selhurst Park Stadium on Wednesday (8/7). The Blues came home with three points after Palace’s chance to equalize in the closing minutes failed to score.
In the sixth minute Olivier Giroud put Chelsea ahead quickly after receiving a pull from Willian. The goal had received a protest from the Palace players because the Chelsea player was considered unfair because he continued to play when defender Gary Cahill, who had previously chased Willian, fell due to a hamstring injury.
Willian who got a breakthrough bait without difficulty entering the Palace penalty box after Cahill fell because he had problems in his thighs. When in the penalty box opponents Willian gave the ball to Giroud who immediately cheated into a goal.
Christian Pulisic put Palace behind 0-2 in the 27th minute. After a one-two collaboration with Giroud, Willian gave the ball to Pulisic who moved from the left. After releasing Joel Ward’s escort, Pulisic released a left-footed shot that could not be anticipated by goalkeeper Vicente Guaita.
After providing two assists, Willian had the opportunity to register his name on the scoreboard in the 31st minute. But Willian’s kick after receiving Pulisic’s pass was pushed over by Guaita.
Although often suppressed and left behind two goals, Palace did not give up. Host resistance produced results with Wilfried Zaha’s goal in the 34th minute changing the score to 1-2.
Zaha’s goal was created superbly because it was done from outside the penalty box that could not be anticipated by Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Christian Benteke’s header from Luka Milivojevic’s cross almost made the Eagles equalize in injury time. Luckily, Benteke’s header ball fell in the arms of Kepa.
At the beginning of the second half precisely in the 48th minute Ross Barkley immediately gave a threat to the host. It’s just that his shot from outside the penalty box is still off the right side of the goal.
The Blues distance themselves from Palace through substitute Tammy Abraham in the 71st minute after receiving an assist from Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
However, Palace quickly responded to goals from Abraham by scoring a goal back from Benteke in the 72nd minute. Assisted by Patrick van Aanholt not wasted by Benteke into a goal and changed the score 2-3.
Chelsea almost failed to win if Palace had scored several goals without fail. In the final minutes of the game, 90 + 5 ‘, Palace successively attacks the Chelsea defense.
However, Scott Dann’s chances through a header still hit the right pole. Likewise with the chance of missing Benteke because the ball was first wiped out by Kurt Zouma. Luckily for Chelsea, who still won 3-2 over Palace.
