Chelsea climbed into the Champions League spots after beating struggling Crystal Palace 3-1 at Selhurst Park.
Match Report
A swift counter-attack finished by Estevao gave Liam Rosenior’s team the ideal start, and Joao Pedro doubled the lead shortly after the restart. Enzo Fernandez then converted from the penalty spot when Jaydee Canvot was penalised for an inadvertent handball following a VAR check.
Any faint hopes of a Palace revival were extinguished when Adam Wharton was sent off, although Chris Richards did grab a late consolation to prevent Robert Sanchez from keeping a clean sheet. Chelsea’s sharper finishing proved decisive as Palace’s slump dragged on.
In Oliver Glasner’s first appearance at Selhurst Park since confirming he will leave at the end of the season and admitting he felt “abandoned” after captain Marc Guehi was sold on the eve of the previous match — the hosts actually began brightly.
Jean-Philippe Mateta, who is also considering his future away from the club, went close after Ismaila Sarr dispossessed Benoit Badiashile, but Sanchez produced an excellent save with his feet. At the other end, Canvot was punished for an error as Estevao struck.
The 18-year-old Brazilian underlined the hype surrounding him by shrugging off Tyrick Mitchell after pouncing on Canvot’s loose pass and drilling past Dean Henderson. It was his first goal since netting against Barcelona.
Pedro then cut inside to beat Henderson again, and Palace’s task became impossible when Canvot was judged to have blocked a goalbound effort with his hand. With Cole Palmer absent, Fernandez stepped up to score the penalty.
Wharton’s dismissal for a rash challenge compounded Palace’s misery, and while Richards headed home late on, Glasner’s side are now winless in 11 matches, sitting eight points above the relegation zone. Chelsea, by contrast, are firmly on the rise.
