A NEW YEAR but still the same frustrating Chelsea that couldn't wait to say goodbye to 2024.
Eredivisie 2024/2025
1-1
- Jean-Philippe Mateta (82')
- Cole Palmer (14')
Match report
Over the past two weeks they have transformed from title chasers to now up against the competition in their bid to stay in the top four of the Premier League.
Enzo Maresca was eight minutes away and saw his new-look side earn a hard-fought victory, which would have meant the Christmas period wasn't a total disaster.
Instead, they broke late in the second half and paid the price as they failed to convert multiple chances to earn their first win in four games.
Boss Maresca was always talking about his chances of chasing Liverpool during his debut season at Stamford Bridge. That would have been quite a job.
But those above his head have set the bar high for their club to play regular Champions League football.
Chelsea remain fourth but are now just a point above Newcastle, who piled the pressure on them in the early game with a win at Tottenham.
The Italian's team responded to the threat by taking the lead inside 15 minutes through Cole Palmer, but let it slip away in the final moments, allowing powerhouse Jean-Philippe Mateta to equalize in the 82nd.
It's the new year, but Chelsea look far from determined and Maresca sees the weaknesses holding his team back.
Jadon Sancho returned to starting line-up as one of six changes imposed by the determined coach as he tries to find a way out of Chelsea's mini-crisis.
Recent defeats to Fulham and Ipswich have dented confidence in the camp. Combined with injuries to key defenders, the head coach has retooled his team to give it a fresher look.
Maresca brought in teenager Josh Acheampong for his first Premier League start, playing alongside Levi Colwill in a young partnership at centre-back.
Acheampong, 18, is highly regarded at Stamford Bridge but a tough away game when the chips are down would not be the ideal circumstances to bestow such an honor on a young boy. That's life at Chelsea now.
But winger Sancho calmed the visitors' nerves as he produced a trick to help Chelsea clear the goal-line.
He received a low pass from Colwill, sold Chris Richards a huge dummy and surrounded the Palace defender to release himself down the left flank in the 14th minute.
After buying time and space for his run, he picked out Palmer in the penalty area, who in turn crossed the ball across goal to claim his thirteenth Premier League goal of the season.
It was a class move from Chelsea and equally unfortunate for Richards.
The American had moments earlier produced a stylish tackle to block Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson's goal-scoring run.
It was the kind of last-ditch but well-timed lunge with the back of his heel that underlines how defending is an underrated art form.
Not long after putting his team ahead, Palmer was inches away from a neat cutback from Pedro Neto that could have made it 2-0 and made the visitors much more comfortable.
Instead, Palace refused to budge and Mateta went close with a shot that was hit just wide of the post by a Chelsea boot.
He was also just too late to catch Ismaila Sarr's header in the penalty area, leaving the goal gaping.
Both in defense and defense, Chelsea are showing signs of weakness in goal, with neither Robert Sanchez nor Filip Jorgensen able to convince their manager to give them a point between the sticks on a regular basis.
Sánchez is a stunner waiting to happen and is obliged to do so with a goal kick that barely clears the grass tops and falls straight to Cheick Doucoure in the center circle.
Fortunately, this move went nowhere, but it does show how Maresca's view that his team is not yet ready for a long-term challenge at the top of the table is still valid.
Chelsea's erratic keeper then redeemed himself by converting Richards' header in the 56th minute.
Jackson missed the target in the second half. He came so close that he bit his fingers in frustration at his narrow miss.
And when Palace turned the screw, they scored a late point when Sarr threw a through ball to Eberechi Eze, who in turn squared up for the advancing Mateta.
The Palace star smashed a shot home to show Chelsea how to be clinical when the pressure is on.
A fifth-place finish in the Premier League could be enough to secure Champions League football next season and at the moment that could be a relief for Maresca.
Competition events
0' The match is about to start!
9' right footed shot from the right side of the penalty area blocked
14' Palmer puts Blues ahead as Sancho assists! Crystal Palace 0-1 Chelsea
19' Nicolas Jackson's right footed shot misses to the right
28' Josh Acheampong's header from very close range misses the left of the goal
38' Nicola Jackson cuts in, but his shot goes wide
42' Caicedo right footed shot from outside the penalty area misses to the left
49' Eberechi Eze misses the chance to equalize as his shot from close range goes wide
62' Neto down in the penalty area, but no foul
65' Levi Colwill booked for his bad tackle
70' Nicolas Jackson misses the chance again as his shot from a small angle goes wide
82' Mateta strikes and draws level with Blues! Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea
86' Highlight of Crystal Palace vs Chelsea
Setups
Crystal Palace XI: Lerma, Dean Henderson, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Sarr, Eberechi Eze, Daniel Muñoz, Guehi, Maxence Lacroix, Cheick Doucouré, Chris Richards, Tyrick Mitchell
Subs: Clyne, Schlupp, Kamada, Matt Turner, Nketiah, Chadi Riad, Justin Devenny, Caleb Kporha, Asher Agbinone
Chelsea XI: Marc Cucurella, Sancho, Robert Sánchez, Pedro Neto, Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernández, Moisés Caicedo, Levi Colwill, Malo Gusto, Nicolas Jackson, Josh Acheampong
Subs: T.Adarabioyo, Nkunku, Axel Disasi, Reece James, Felix, Noni Madueke, Filip Jørgensen, Renato Veiga, Marc Guiu
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