Chelsea secured a dramatic 2-1 victory against Crystal Palace in their final Stamford Bridge outing of 2023. Mykhailo Mudryk opened the scoring early in the first half, finishing off a pass from Malo Gusto. However, Crystal Palace leveled the score just before halftime as Michael Olise converted from close range.
The second half saw Chelsea relentlessly pushing for a winner, and the decisive moment arrived in the 89th minute. Noni Madueke was brought down in the penalty area by Olise, leading to a VAR-reviewed penalty. Madueke confidently stepped up to the spot, converting and sealing the crucial three points for Chelsea.
Manager Pochettino fielded Chelsea’s youngest-ever Premier League starting XI, making five changes from the previous match. Despite a slow start, the Blues created numerous chances, with Mudryk and Gusto impressing in attack. Palace’s sporadic threats were nullified by goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic.
Chelsea made strategic second-half substitutions, introducing Thiago Silva and Romeo Lavia, while
Palace defended deep. VAR ruled out a Jackson goal for offside, but Madueke’s late penalty secured the hard-fought victory. The win propels Chelsea to tenth place in the Premier League, setting the stage for their upcoming clash against Luton Town.