Goals : Chelsea FC – Crystal Palace – Played on 1/15/2023
Chelsea arose from its slumber, to achieve a difficult victory over its guest Crystal Palace (1-0) on Sunday evening, in the twentieth round of the English Premier League.
Kai Havertz scored the match’s only goal in the 64th minute, to get rid of Chelsea’s series of disappointing results, raising its score to 28 points in tenth place, while Crystal Palace’s balance remained 22 points in twelfth place.
Chelsea had the advantage at the beginning of the match, but the first quarter of the hour did not witness any real chances on the two goals, especially from Chelsea, who struggled to get the ball inside the penalty area.
Contrary to the course of the game, Crystal Palace had the first real opportunity in the match in the 19th minute, when a cross caused confusion in the Chelsea penalty area, and the ball reached Mitchell, who fired a shot that goalkeeper Kiba excelled at the clearing.
A minute later, Doucoure’s pass from midfield reached Oliseh, who controlled the ball before shooting it, but Kepa was present again.
Chelsea waited until the 24th minute to respond when Silva watched two header attempts bounce off Crystal Palace’s defense before the ball returned to him and hit it directly, but goalkeeper Guaita saved it.
In the 32nd minute, Ziyech raised a cross toward the middle of the penalty area, followed by Havertz with a header to hit the upper net from the outside.
Gallagher made his way down the right, to direct a low cross, which Havertz failed to follow, to reach Hull, who shot it directly to pass by the far post in the 40th minute.
In stoppage time, Oliseh executed a corner kick, and Ayoyo rose to it, but Kiba pushed his attempt away, and Chelsea responded immediately when the ball reached Ziyash, who fired a direct shot, Guaita pushed it away with his fingertips.
Gallagher made a mistake in passing the ball back towards Badiachel, to be cut by Oliseh before passing to Zaha, and the latter hit a powerful ball, which was saved by Kepa in the 56th minute.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang entered the Chelsea squad instead of Chukowimia, changing the method of play to 4-2-3-1, and Havertz managed to open the scoring in the 64th minute when Ziyach sent a cross, Havertz rose to it and put it with his head in the net.
Jorginho passed an accurate through ball towards Aubameyang, who was alone with Guaita after he got rid of the defender with a touch, but the latter blocked his own in the 71st minute.
Chelsea almost strengthened its lead with a second goal in the 81st minute, when Mont lifted a cross from the right, Havertz was unable to reach it, while Aubameyang was unable to follow it up at the far post.
Palace came close to equalizing in the 86th minute when the ball reached Doucoure, who shot “on the bird” from outside the penalty area, but goalkeeper Kiba flew to clear the ball over the goal.
