Chelsea came from behind to beat Crystal Palace 3-1 at Selhurst Park on Monday evening. Connor Gallagher bagged a brace, Enzo Fernandez sealed the win late on, and Cole Palmer made two assists too.
Mauricio Pochettino’s men sealed back-to-back away wins for the first time in three months, after previously losing six from seven. Chelsea have also scored three goals for the second game running and Gallagher has contributed 50% of them.
Chelsea got off to a bad start
Jordan Ayew forced a save from Djordje Petrovic with a low effort from distance minutes into the game. Jean-Philippe Mateta had an opportunity in the box midway through the first-half but couldn’t find a corner.
Jefferson Lerma spurned an effort on the half-hour mark, swinging wildly and missing the ball, but he soon made amends. The 29-year-old opened the scoring in the same move with a thunderous strike from distance.
Lerma fired an effort from 25-yards out, finding the top corner, after Chelsea failed to clear their lines correctly. The Eagles would go into the break with a slim lead, but it didn’t last long after the restart.
Gallagher and Palmer save Chelsea
Just two minutes into the second half, Chelsea levelled the game through Gallagher. Malo Gusto whipped in a cross on the right flank and Gallagher converted into the back of the net.
Palace still posed a threat and forced saves from Petrovic as they bore down on goal, but it didn’t last. Chances came and went for both sides in the second-half, but Chelsea broke the deadlock late on.
Gallagher bagged his second of the game in injury time, courtesy of great work from Palmer. The 21-year-old ran down the right flank before cutting inside and finding Gallagher on the edge of the box. He side-footed a first-team effort into the bottom corner to give Chelsea the lead late on.
Palace were distraught to lose it so late, but Chelsea won’t done there. Enzo Fernandez got on the scoresheet and Palmer bagged another assist. Chelsea hit Palace on the counter and Palmer ran half the pitch with the ball at his feet.
He picked out Fernandez on the left who ghosted past one defended and found the roof of the net. It was an important win for Chelsea, as their league form had been a problem for some time.
