Crystal Palace vs Chelsea: Post Match Review

Chelsea did not start with Diego Costa for the match and he was not even in squad but it did not make any difference and Chelsea maintained unbeaten streak in the premier League.

The game was filled with a lot of aggression and it resulted in both teams down to 10 men before half time.

Chelsea showed physicality but also plenty of craftiness and finesse. Oscar’s opening goal was beautifully flighted delivery into the far top corner going across the goal, and then the Brazilian’s divine exchange with Cesc Fabregas to enable the Spanish midfielder to score the second.

Source: chelseafc.com

Palace started the first half better and could have had three goals in the opening minutes. Yannick Bolasie and Frazier Campbell were giving Branislav Ivanovic and Gary Cahill plenty of problems, though they squandered a series of chances they had done so well to create.

Then Damien Delaney took down Willian, which allowed Oscar to curl an exceptional free-kick into the far corner of the net. Chelsea were 1-0 up but not completely on top. Without Costa, they were playing a little further back, and Palace were all too willing to try to intimidate Loïc Rémy, mostly through Delaney and Mile Jedinak.

That led to game getting a lot of aggressive. Azpilicueta’s wild challenge on Jedinak, saw him get a deserved red card on 40th minute, but Delaney could have no complaints either when minutes later he was booked for the second time, for hauling back Loic Remy.

Game was set for 10 v 10 match in the second half. Chelsea were too dominant, they were exchanging passes at will that led to one of the best goals of this season, by Cesc Fabregas exchanging passes with Oscar and Hazard.

“We did what we wanted to do, have the ball, use the ball and control the game. The second goal was a scandal. It is unbelievably good!” – Jose Mourinho

The game was set for Chelsea and but Palace scored a consolation goal on the 90th minute, when Zaha skipped past Filipe Luis who made a lame attempt to stop him. Zaha then put the ball across the ball to feed Frazier Campbell, who had a good game himself.

Neil Warnock did not hesitate to criticize referee Craig Pawson (who I think had a good game as a referee): “I thought they influenced him at times today, but he’s young. Inexperience, I guess. If that was my player, I thought John Terry would have been booked for definite. I thought the ref left a lot to be desired.”

Man of the match: Oscar