Report: Palace hit late equaliser to claim a point against Chelsea

Summary:

• 2: Sancho blasts Chelsea’s first effort of the game over Henderson’s crossbar from inside the penalty area.
• 13 – GOAL: Sancho tees up Palmer inside the Palace box who puts Chelsea into the lead.
• 18: Palmer free-kick finds Jackson at the back post, but the visitors’ forward fails to test Henderson from only yards out.
• 27: Lacroix is forced to make a huge clearance close to his own goal after Fernandez gets space down the left wing. Acheampong heads the resulting corner wide.
• 28: Palace go close for the first time, but Mateta is unable to make contact with Sarr’s flicked header.
• 34: Munoz picks out Mateta inside the Chelsea penalty area, but his shot is deflected only inches beyond the post.
• HT: Palace 0-1 Chelsea
• 48: Eze’s first-time shot shaves the post, as Palace start the second-half on top.
• 53: Richards forces excellent save from Sanchez as Palace continue to press.
• 63: Colwill goes in the book for a late challenge.
• 69: Fernandez shoots wide of the Palace goal after taking Palmer’s pass first-time, Jackson then misses the target after a mix-up in the Eagles defence.
• 72: Mateta denied by last-ditch block from Colwill.
• 81 – GOAL: Mateta levels after an incisive Palace breakaway, Sarr sending Eze clear who unselfishly tees up JP!
• FT: Palace 1-1 Chelsea

Chelsea did lead for much of an absorbing 90 minutes at Selhurst Park, but Ebere Eze teed-up Mateta to convert with less than ten minutes to play – after a battling display to kick-off 2025 on a positive note.

Despite being forced into two changes due to the unavailability of Will Hughes and Trevoh Chalobah, Palace looked settled in a system which had brought only one Premier League defeat in six December fixtures.

Yet with only their second real attack of the contest - following an early misfired volley Jadon Sancho – Chelsea got the opening goal.

Sancho ran at pace at the Palace defence, before finding Cole Palmer, whose cool finish gave Dean Henderson no chance.

The Eagles could have fallen further behind had Nicolas Jackson managed to find the target from only a few yards out minutes later, following a dangerous Palmer free-kick.

But after the half-hour mark Palace started to find their way into the contest. First Mateta’s effort was only just deflected wide, followed by a successions of corners.

Then a typically acrobatic effort from Eze nearly found the net, only for Robert Sanchez to manage to turn the ball away from goal.

At the other end Jackson again went close after a stunning pass from Palmer, but his effort thankfully curled wide of the post.

Palace continued to apply the pressure, a low Munoz cross causing confusion in the Blues defence, while Eze and Ismaila Sarr also had good efforts well-blocked – as Chelsea ended the half with a one-goal advantage.

The Eagles started the second-half in the same manner. Only three minutes after the restart Eze very nearly swept the ball into the bottom corner, with Sanchez well-beaten.

Chris Richards was next to test the Chelsea keeper’s resolve, meeting Eze’s cross with a powerful header, only for Sanchez to tip the ball over the crossbar.

In a stop-start 45 minutes, Palace continued to have the chances when they did arrive, Sarr narrowly failing to get on the end of Mateta’s flick-on, with Sanchez again making the save.

Eze then forced a last-ditch challenge from Malo Gusto, with Oliver Glasner throwing on Daichi Kamada in a bid to unlock the Chelsea backline. Jackson nearly ended the contest at the other end, only to put his effort beyond the far post.

Just when a goal looked to have eluded the Eagles, Sarr drove forward before sending Eze clear on goal, he could have shot but instead found Mateta, who had the simplest of tasks for the vital Palace equaliser.

Eddie Nketiah was then introduced to partner Mateta as the Eagles searched for a dramatic winner. In the end it was defender Maxence Lacroix who went the closest, his long-range drive well stopped by Sanchez.

In the end, after three further minutes of injury time, Palace had to settle for a point. A good performance – and result - to kick-off 2025.

Palace: Henderson (GK), Muñoz, Richards, Lacroix, Guéhi, Mitchell, Lerma, Doucoure (Kamada, 69), Sarr, Mateta, Eze (Nketiah, 87).

Subs: Turner (GK), Clyne, Riad, Kporha, Devenny, Schlupp, Agbinone.

Chelsea: Sanchez (GK), Gusto, Acheampong, Colwill, Cucurella, Fernandez, Caicedo, Neto, Palmer, Sancho (Madueke, 86) Jackson (Guiu, 81).

Subs: Jorgensen (GK), Disasi, Tosin, Veiga, James, Felix, Nkunku.

As It Happened