• Saturday, 28 December 2024
Late Madueke penalty helps Chelsea beat Crystal Palace

Late Madueke penalty helps Chelsea beat Crystal Palace

Noni Madueke scored an 89th-minute winner from the penalty spot to help Chelsea overcome Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League.

The hosts deservedly went in front in the 13th minute after good work from Malo Gusto ended with the full-back squaring the ball to Mykhailo Mudryk to net from close range.

But Palace levelled on the stroke of half-time when Michael Olise brought down Jordan Ayew's cross and smashed an effort into the bottom corner.

Chelsea created numerous chances throughout, and it looked as if Mauricio Pochettino's side would pay for their wasteful finishing for a second consecutive match.

Nicolas Jackson thought he had scored in the 77th minute when he poked in Thiago Silva's deep cross but the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) ruled the forward was just offside.

But Chelsea got the break they needed in a tense finale when the VAR spotted Eberechi Eze had fouled substitute Madueke just inside the area and the England Under-21 forward expertly sent Palace keeper Dean Henderson the wrong way from the spot.

"We created many chances," manager Pochettino told BBC Match of the Day. "I am really pleased with the performance."

This was Chelsea's third successive home Premier League win, but only their sixth in 2023 as they moved up to 10th in the table.

"The Premier League is really tough and we need to be consistent," added Pochettino.

"The first half of the season has been really up and down and it's been tough and difficult. But we're positive and we need to show that we can compete."

Late Madueke penalty helps Chelsea beat Crystal Palace

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