Eberechi Eze Has Goal Ruled Out As Crystal Palace Hold Chelsea To Draw

If location was a consciousness of nan new world champions being dragged backmost down to world connected a sweltering day astatine Stamford Bridge, it should not beryllium forgotten that immoderate broadside arsenic short of lucifer sharpness arsenic Chelsea would not person relished trying to find a measurement past opponents who look to for illustration thing much than to bloody nan noses of nan elite.

Perhaps this will beryllium publication arsenic 2 dropped points for Enzo Maresca’s broadside arsenic they look to build connected a triumphant summertime successful nan US by mounting a title challenge. Anyone paying attention, though, will cognize location is thing easy astir trying to find a measurement done a squad coached by Oliver Glasner. Crystal Palace, aft all, are riding precocious aft building connected winning nan FA Cup by beating Liverpool successful nan Community Shield and nan pleasing point for Maresca will beryllium that his players grew into nan title arsenic it wore on, moreover if nan wide belief was that each nan riches earned from Fifa’s expanded Club World Cup has near Chelsea pinch a beingness value to pay.

Chelsea were incapable to assistance their level successful nan last 3rd and nan reality is that they were fortunate not to lose. Palace were near emotion aggrieved erstwhile Eberechi Eze, who impressed successful what whitethorn person been his past crippled for nan club, had an early free-kick ruled out.

Chelsea mightiness person had a golden badge connected nan garment but it was not a astonishment that they had lead successful their boots during nan early stages. A compressed pre-season has made preparations awkward and while nan location fans enjoyed nan pre-match festivities, crowing arsenic they drank successful nan unveiling of a shiny world champions motion overlooking nan Shed End conscionable earlier kick-off, it was adjacent to wonderment if Maresca’s broadside were going to beryllium fresh fixed that it had been only 35 days since they were taking Paris Saint-Germain isolated successful New Jersey.

Those doubts were not precisely batted distant during an opening successful which Chelsea’s rustiness was evident successful nan measurement they struggled to execute their passes and play done Palace. It was bitty from nan hosts for overmuch of nan opening period, nan accustomed connections simply not there, and Maresca will person felt his lawsuit for nan committee to perceive to his pleas for a caller centre-back turn stronger. Levi Colwill, truthful important to nan team’s buildup from nan back, was a large miss aft tearing an anterior cruciate ligament successful training earlier this month, and nan issues were exacerbated pinch Tosin Adarabioyo besides unavailable pinch a insignificant injury.

Palace sought to utilization those frailties. It has been a trying summertime for nan FA Cup winners, who person spent it railing against nan established order, and they had a constituent to beryllium aft being demoted to nan Conference League by Uefa for failing to comply pinch multi-club ownership rules.

Eberechi Eze applauds nan Crystal Palace fans astatine nan last whistle successful what could beryllium his past crippled for nan club. Photograph: David Klein/Reuters

At slightest Glasner was capable to commencement Marc Guéhi successful cardinal defence and Eze successful attack, nan latter’s spot having travel into uncertainty earlier successful nan play arsenic his prospective move to Tottenham edges nearer. Palace, though, soon felt nan impatience pinch authority rising. They thought they had an early lead erstwhile Eze smashed a free-kick past Robert Sánchez successful nan 13th minute, only for nan extremity to beryllium disallowed aft Darren England was called to nan pitchside show and penalised Guéhi for being wrong a metre of nan Chelsea wall.

The free-kick stemmed from an correction from Josh Acheampong, who started arsenic Colwill’s replacement, moving into a cardinal centre-back domiciled successful possession. Maresca, acold little demonstrative than Glasner, looked pensive connected nan touchline. Chelsea were slow to nan loose balls and had nary grip successful midfield, wherever Adam Wharton and Will Hughes often had nan measurement of Caicedo and Enzo Fernández.

Wharton was a notable delight, nan England Under-21 world pursuing 1 gorgeous pirouette by piercing Chelsea’s defence pinch a gorgeous pass. Jean-Philippe Mateta changeable excessively adjacent to Sánchez.

Chelsea’s chances earlier half-time were constricted to Marc Cucurella seeing a header cleared disconnected nan statement and Trevoh Chalobah firing complete from adjacent range. Cole Palmer was quiet. Jamie Gittens, handed a debut connected nan near wing, sewage nary alteration retired of Daniel Muñoz. João Pedro worked difficult but was often crowded out.

Maresca reset during nan interval. Chelsea were fixed an injection of power erstwhile Gittens made measurement for Estêvão Willian. The Brazilian teen was soon moving astatine Tyrick Mitchell connected nan correct but blazed complete pinch his 1 chance.

Palace, who were fortunate that Mateta avoided a 2nd yellowish paper for a precocious tackle connected Caicedo, fell backmost aft an hour. Maresca responded by utilising his attacking depth, Liam Delap coming connected for João Pedro. But Palace retained a threat connected nan counterattack Sánchez turning complete a powerful effort from Eze.

Added clip brought 1 past glimmer from Chelsea, Andrey Santos sidefooting complete not agelong aft replacing Fernández. A tie was adjacent connected nan equilibrium of play.