LONDON – Chelsea turned on the style in south London, beating Crystal Palace 3-1 in an entertaining Premier League match at Selhurst Park. Liam Rosenior’s side were sharp in front of goal and managed the game well, especially after Palace went down to 10 men in the second half.
The three points lift Chelsea back into the Premier League top four and keep their Champions League push on track. Palace, though, will be frustrated again by sloppy moments at the back and another costly disciplinary decision.
Estêvão Makes His Mark Early
Chelsea struck first through teenage winger Estêvão Willian, who stepped in for the injured Cole Palmer and looked right at home. Picking up the ball on the right, he drove inside and curled a superb shot into the top corner past Dean Henderson. It was a fine finish, and it gave Chelsea control.
He then added an assist soon after. Estêvão slid a perfectly weighted pass into João Pedro, who kept his calm, went round the keeper, and rolled the ball into an empty net to make it 2-0. Palace had no answer for the pace and movement in those moments.
Wharton’s Red Card Swings the Match
Palace’s task got much harder after the break when Adam Wharton saw red for a dangerous challenge. Referee Darren England produced a straight red card, and the home side were left chasing the game with 10 men.
Even so, Palace didn’t fold. Substitute Jean-Philippe Mateta gave the crowd something to shout about when he headed in from a corner, cutting the gap and raising hopes of a late push.
Penalty Call Ends Palace’s Hopes
Chelsea settled things with a penalty that Palace felt was harsh. Enzo Fernández stepped up and scored from 12 yards after a handball decision in the area involving Maxence Caquot (following an incident in the box). Fernández stayed composed, sent Henderson the wrong way, and made sure the points were heading back to west London.
It was also a welcome moment for Chelsea on the road, marking their first Premier League away win in their recent run and underlining their better form under Rosenior.
Match Highlights
- Estêvão’s opener: A curling strike into the top corner.
- João Pedro makes it two: Calm finish after Estêvão’s through-ball.
- Wharton sent off: A straight red that changed the second half.
- Mateta pulls one back: Strong header from a set piece.
- Fernández from the spot: Penalty put away to wrap it up at 3-1.
Selhurst Park had its usual edge, with both sets of fans making plenty of noise throughout.
Chelsea Starting XI and Key Stats
| Position | Player | Key Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| GK | Robert Sánchez | Confident on the ball, made key stops |
| RB | Reece James (c) | Led by example, supported attacks |
| CB | Trevoh Chalobah | Read danger well, stayed calm |
| CB | Benoît Badiashile | Strong in the air, solid positioning |
| LB | Marc Cucurella | High energy, helped down the left |
| CM | Andrey Santos | Covered ground, kept play moving |
| CM | Moisés Caicedo | Controlled midfield battles |
| RW | Estêvão Willian | Goal and assist, standout performer |
| CAM | Enzo Fernández | Scored the penalty, drove play |
| LW | Pedro Neto | Direct running stretched the back line |
| ST | João Pedro | Took his goal well, held up play |
Chelsea had around 58% possession and finished with 14 shots (7 on target). Palace managed 9 shots (3 on target). Chelsea’s passing accuracy sat at 88%, showing how well they kept the ball under pressure.
Crystal Palace Starting XI and Key Stats
| Position | Player | Key Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| GK | Dean Henderson | Made several saves to keep Palace in it |
| RB | [Typical RB, e.g., Daniel Muñoz] | Had a tough night defensively |
| CB | Maxence Caquot | Involved in the penalty incident |
| CB | [Central defender] | Held firm for long spells |
| LB | Tyrick Mitchell | Offered overlap and width |
| CM | Adam Wharton | Sent off, big turning point |
| CM | [Midfielder] | Worked hard, limited impact |
| AM | Eberechi Eze | Carried the main creative threat |
| RW | [Winger] | Quiet game overall |
| LW | [Winger] | Showed flashes, not enough end product |
| ST | Jean-Philippe Mateta | Came on and scored, bright moment |
With 10 men, Palace saw far less of the ball after the break. They pushed late on, but Chelsea stayed organised and didn’t allow many clear chances.
Post-Match Reaction
Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior praised his winger after the final whistle: “Estêvão showed his quality. We stayed in control and we earned the win.”
The Crystal Palace manager pointed to the key calls: “We were still in it before the sending-off. The decisions didn’t go our way, but we’ve got to defend better.”
Chelsea will want to carry this form into their next Premier League fixture as they chase a top-four finish. The Palace needs a response quickly, with results and discipline, but both are letting them down at the wrong times. This match also underlined the gap between the two London sides this season.
