Chelsea Edge Out Palace In Thrilling Encounter To Move Third

Chelsea’s opening goal came in somewhat debatable circumstances as Crystal Palace defender Gary Cahill pulled a hamstring while taking on Willian, but the Brazilian nonetheless continued unchallenged into the hosts box before picking out Olivier Giroud to tap home in the 6^th minute.

The visitors almost doubled their lead three minutes later when Kurt Zouma met Willian’s corner but the Frenchman’s header from eight yards out went just wide of the Palace right post.

Frank Lampard’s men duly got their second of the game in the 27^th minute when the in-form Christian Pulisic got a pass from Willian after a slick Chelsea move before blasting past Vicente Guaita in the Palace goal.

Pulisic nearly turned provider when he fed Willian in the 34th minute but Guaita was on hand to keep out the Brazilian’s powerful strike.

Wilfried Zaha pulled Palace into the game with a thunderbolt of a strike from 30 yards out in the 35^th minute that absolutely bamboozled Kepa Arrizabalaga in the Chelsea goal.

Substitutes Tammy Abraham and Ruben Loftus-Cheek combined beautifully before the striker sliced in Chelsea’s third in the 71^st minute but Palace responded almost immediately through Christian Benteke, who tapped into an empty net after some good work by Patrick Van Aanholt.

Roy Hodgson’s men almost grabbed an equaliser at the death but Scott Dann’s header from Zaha’s cross bounced off the post, allowing Chelsea to clear.