EPL: Mateta’s Late Strike Denies Chelsea Victory Against Crystal Palace
EPL: Mateta’s Late Strike Denies Chelsea Victory Against Crystal Palace
Chelsea’s winless streak in the Premier League stretched to four games after Jean-Philippe Mateta scored late to secure a 1-1 draw for Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
The Blues, who ended 2024 with back-to-back defeats, have carried their poor form into 2025. Despite a bright start, they failed to capitalize on their dominance.
Cole Palmer gave Chelsea the lead in the 14th minute with his 13th league goal, set up brilliantly by Jadon Sancho. The Blues created several opportunities to extend their advantage, but Nicolas Jackson missed three chances, while Sancho, Moises Caicedo, and Josh Acheampong were off target.
Crystal Palace struggled in the first half, managing just one shot on target—a tame effort from Jefferson Lerma comfortably saved by Robert Sanchez.
After the break, Palace showed more intent, with Eberechi Eze narrowly missing an equalizer. Chelsea continued to waste chances, with Jackson, Pedro Neto, and Enzo Fernandez all failing to hit the mark.
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The turning point came in the 81st minute when Mateta connected with Eze’s square pass to score from close range, securing a valuable point for the Eagles.
Crystal Palace are now unbeaten in three league games and sit 15th on the table, while Chelsea remain in fourth, frustrated by their inability to turn dominance into victories.
As one fan remarked, “Chelsea’s finishing has been their undoing. They need to be more clinical if they want to stay in the top four.”
