Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea: Blues’ winless run continues
Chelsea’s winless streak in the Premier League has now extended to four games after squandering a lead to settle for a draw. Despite a promising start, the Blues once again found themselves ruing missed opportunities, managing just two points from a possible 12. The spotlight falls not only on their inability to finish but also on a costly error in the buildup to the opposition’s late equalizer.
Cole Palmer was Chelsea’s bright spark, scoring the team’s only goal, but his subsequent loss of possession led to Jean-Philippe Mateta’s equalizer. It was another frustrating chapter for Chelsea under Enzo Maresca, whose side dominated possession and created opportunities but lacked the clinical edge to secure victory.
Nicolas Jackson, while not the sole offender, is likely to face intense scrutiny. The striker missed chances that could have sealed the game, adding Crystal Palace to the growing list of teams—alongside Everton, Fulham, and Ipswich.
Jadon Sancho sparked Chelsea’s early breakthrough with a dazzling display of skill and composure. Chasing down the ball, he snaked inside, leaving Chris Richards, Daniel Muñoz, and Maxence Lacroix scrambling to contain him. With three defenders converging, Sancho cleverly tapped the ball to Cole Palmer, who capitalized on the opportunity, using a favorable angle to slot it past Dean Henderson for the opening goal.
However, Chelsea’s familiar woes in front of goal soon resurfaced. A series of squandered chances began to pile up. Nicolas Jackson fluffed a straightforward volley from a set-piece, while Pedro Neto misjudged a perfect setup for Palmer after skillfully outmaneuvering Tyrick Mitchell. Even Josh Acheampong, making his full Premier League debut at just 18, failed to convert an unmarked header from a corner.
As Chelsea’s missed opportunities mounted, a sense of inevitability loomed. Crystal Palace nearly capitalized when Jean-Philippe Mateta’s effort deflected off Levi Colwill, narrowly missing the target. Despite the scare, Chelsea continued pressing, with Palmer threading an impeccably timed pass for Jackson. The striker turned Lacroix with ease but fired wide with the outside of his boot, epitomizing the team’s lack of clinical finishing.
After the break, Palace began to assert themselves. Muñoz’s cutback found Eberechi Eze in a dangerous position, but the forward’s effort went astray—a wake-up call for Chelsea. Moments later, a foul by Moisés Caicedo set up a threatening Palace free-kick. Richards’ header from the resulting cross was brilliantly tipped over by Robert Sánchez, keeping Chelsea’s lead intact.
Controversy struck in the 63rd minute when Chelsea appealed for a penalty, claiming Neto had been fouled by Mitchell. VAR deemed Mitchell’s minimal contact on the ball sufficient to deny the penalty, adding to Chelsea’s frustration. Enzo Fernández and Jackson both missed clear opportunities to extend the lead, the latter spurning a one-on-one chance against Henderson that left Enzo Maresca visibly exasperated. Seeking to shake things up, Maresca introduced 19-year-old Marc Guiu for his first Premier League minutes since opening day.
But just as Guiu entered the fray, disaster struck. Palmer’s loss of possession in midfield allowed Palace to launch a swift counterattack. Ismaïla Sarr drove forward and played in the unmarked Eze, who selflessly squared the ball to Mateta. The striker got ahead of Marc Cucurella to tap home the equalizer, stunning Chelsea.
The Blues, who had snatched last-minute winners in their previous three visits to Selhurst Park, found no such reprieve this time. Their profligacy in front of goal and defensive lapses ensured they left South London with just a solitary point—a reflection of their recurring struggles this season.
Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea: Blues’ winless run continues
