Skip to main content Skip to footer 
Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze delivered a moment of brilliance to secure a 1-1 draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea, who came into the match on the back of a resounding 6-2 victory over Wolves, were the dominant side in the first half. Cole Palmer came close to scoring, and Dean Henderson made a superb save from Noni Madueke before Nicolas Jackson opened the scoring with a near-post finish from Palmer’s cross.
Palace were fortunate not to be reduced to 10 men when Will Hughes, already on a booking, escaped a second yellow card for a foul on Palmer. Shortly after, Eze curled a stunning equalizer beyond Chelsea’s goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, bringing Palace level.
Despite Sanchez’s heroics in stopping a powerful shot from Daichi Kamada, Chelsea had a golden opportunity to clinch the win in stoppage time. However, Jackson’s one-on-one effort was saved by Henderson, leaving the Blues frustrated.
The draw provided Crystal Palace with their first point of the season after two consecutive losses, while Chelsea now have four points from their opening three games.
Summer Changes, Same Old Frustrations for Chelsea
Chelsea’s summer saw significant changes, with over £200 million spent on new signings and 37 players either leaving permanently or on loan. Despite this, familiar issues persisted for the Blues. England forward Jadon Sancho, Chelsea’s final summer signing, was introduced to fans before the match, but it was former Wolves player Pedro Neto who was included in the starting lineup.
Chelsea’s first-half dominance failed to translate into a commanding lead, with only Jackson’s second goal of the season to show for their efforts. Missed opportunities, a problem from last season, continued to haunt Chelsea as Jackson failed to convert late chances, including a one-on-one with Henderson.
The draw means Chelsea are still searching for their first home win of the 2024-25 season, despite the optimism following their win against Wolves.
Eze Shines Again for Crystal Palace
Eberechi Eze continued his fine form, proving to be the difference-maker for Crystal Palace. With the departure of Michael Olise to Bayern Munich, Eze has stepped up as the focal point of Palace’s attack. His stunning goal against Chelsea not only shifted the momentum in Palace’s favor but also highlighted his importance to the team.
Although Palace had limited chances, Eze’s equalizer and overall performance were key in earning a valuable point against a team they have struggled against in recent years. The draw ended a run of 13 consecutive losses to Chelsea and provided Palace with a foundation to build upon for the rest of the season.
