PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG has fired Chelsea back into their Premier League clash against Crystal Palace.
But seconds earlier, Thiago Silva could have been sent off for handling the ball to deny a goalscoring opportunity.
Odsonne Edouard had given Palace a highly-deserved lead after an early onslaught on Kepa’s goal at Selhurst Park.
But Kalidou Koulibaly has been dropped to the bench, with Edouard Mendy not in the squad at all with an injury.
Conor Gallagher returns to the club where he was so effective last season and the England Under-21 ace is on the bench.
- Start time: 3pm GMT
- Live stream: Peacock (US)
- Palace XI: Guaita; Clyne, Ward, Guehi, Mitchell; Olise, Doucoure, Eze; Ayew, Edouard, Zaha
- Chelsea XI: Kepa; James, Silva, Fofana, Chilwell; Mount, Jorginho, Kovacic; Havertz, Aubameyang, Sterling
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What a game…
Wow.
That game had it all.
Two potential red cards, not given, a brilliant atmosphere which is guaranteed at Selhurst Park, an Aubameyang volley AND a Gallagher screamer to win the game at the death.
Chelsea overturned a 1-0 deficit away to Crystal Palace, thanks to goals from Pierre Emerick Aubameyang and Conor Gallagher, who came off the bench to score on his return to Selhurst Park.
It is a huge first win for Graham Potter in his first Premier League game in charge of The Blues, who now overtake Fulham and Manchester United to sit 5th in the Premier League.
FT. Crystal Palace 1-2 Chelsea.
The referee calls a close to this spectacular game of football.
Chelsea come away with all three points thanks to Conor Gallagher’s beautiful first goal for Chelsea.
90+2. Crystal Palace 1-2 Chelsea.
We are into the second of four added minutes at Selhurst Park.
Chilwell clears his lines and Chelsea will look to hold possession and see this one out.
90. Crystal Palace 1-2 Chelsea.
What a goal.
We said earlier that the script could be written for a scoring return to Selhurst Park, and it looks like we were right…
Christian Pulisic sets him up Gallagher outside the box, and he bends an absolute beauty into the top right corner.
Wow. The 89th minute again, deja vu for Palace.
89. Crystal Palace 1-2 Chelsea.
THE SCRIPT IS WRITTEN. CONOR GALLAGHER SCORES A SCREAMER!
87. Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea.
It must be said that Palace are looking the more likely side to grab a winner here in this one.
The Chelsea substitutes have failed to really add an injection of pace into the game.
Kovacic gets a yellow card for a tactical foul on Michael Olise.
85. Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea.
Crystal Palace get a flurry of corners, as they look to take advantage of Mateta’s height in the middle.
He does win the latest corner, but it is over the crossbar and it will be a goal kick for Chelsea.
82. Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea.
Wilfried Zaha does really well down the right hand side again, but still no goal for Palace.
Will Hughes and Mateta are on for Palace, in replacement of Edouard and Doucoure.
Christian Pulisic comes on for Mason Mount, don’t forget about his record against The Eagles, he could prove the difference.
80. Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea.
Zaha does well to get a cross into the middle, but nothing comes of it for Palace.
Gallagher looks to play a long ball into Broja, but Tomkins does well to stop it.
The Blues look to counter and the ball is played to Sterling, but he takes a heavy touch in the box and the chance is lost for Chelsea.
78. Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea.
Ex-Chelsea man Guehi does brilliantly to slide across the turf and stop the marauding Reece James from getting a cross into the middle.
Sterling fires a shot at goal, but Guaita makes the catch.
76. Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea.
Aubameyang and Havertz are off for Broja and Gallagher.
Conor Gallagher gets a warm welcome back to Selhurst Park from the home supporters.
Is the script written for a scoring return to Selhurst Park?
72. Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea.
Eze looks to be through, but Kepa does well to come out and claim.
Loftus-Cheek finds James in space, but his cross is blocked.
Jeffrey Schlupp is coming on for Ebere Eze, who put in a good showing today, and gets a warm ovation from the home fans.
70. Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea.
Loftus-Cheek looks for the run of Reece James, but the pass is sloppy, and goes out for a goal kick.
Palace look to counter with Olise down the right hand side, who finds Zaha…
Zaha fires a shot at goal, but it is well saved by Kepa in goal.
68. Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea.
Chelsea still searching for a winner, Sterling breaks free after a lapse in concentration by Mitchell.
He looks to play to ball across the box when maybe he should’ve taken a shot at goal, it comes to nothing.
66. Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea.
Loftus-Cheek looks for the dink over the top for Aubameyang, but Guaita does well to close it down and claim it.
Last season, Hakim Ziyech scored the winner in this fixture in the 89th minute.
64. Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea.
Palace are playing pinball in their own box for a second, with the ball bouncing all over the place in the Palace half.
Reece James plays a lovely first time ball for Havertz on the right hand side, but the German can’t find a finishing touch.
62. Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea.
A polite reminder that NONE of the last 22 meetings between these two sides have produced a draw.
It is all to play for…
Zaha goes up against James, but there is only one winner as the English right back stands his ground.
60. Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea.
Half an hour to go in this one, with the game definitely open enough for either team to grab a winner.
Havertz had a decent chance a moment ago after a lovely reverse pass from Mason Mount, but the German’s shot was blocked.
58. Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea.
Another potential injury issue for Palace here.
Marc Guehi goes down before hobbling off to receive some treatment.
56. Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea.
Aubameyang does well to find Havertz, who picks out Raheem Sterling.
Raheem does a little bit too much, before setting Ben Chilwell up for a shot from distance that he fires over.
Almost incredible from Raheem.
54. Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea.
It looks like Graham Potter is going to make use of his first substitute, with Jorginho making way for Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
Worth remembering that RLC was on loan at Crystal Palace, and was a fan favourite in his time at Selhurst Park.
52. Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea.
Mason Mount receives a yellow card.
Olise drives towards the Chelsea box, before being dispossessed and Mitchell wins a foul.
50. Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea.
Eze finds Zaha as Palace look to keep some possession inside the Chelsea half.
Mitchell looks to find Eze, the number 10, but Fofana is there to cut it out.
The young Frenchman has really began to grow into this game now.
48. Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea.
Zaha tries to find Doucoure, but he can’t get on the end of it and Mount tracks back to clear.
46. Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea.
We are back underway, and there is a nervy start to the second half from Palace as Chelsea win a corner that is cleared well.
Palace look to counter with Zaha…
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
