Chelsea's winless streak continues with draw at Palace

Chelsea’s struggles in the Premier League persisted on Sunday as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. Despite an early goal from Cole Palmer and a strong first-half performance, the Blues failed to secure all three points, extending their winless run to four matches. A late equalizer from Jean-Philippe Mateta compounded Chelsea’s frustrations, leaving them stuck in fourth place while Palace strengthened their position in 15th.

Palmer strikes early for Chelsea

Chelsea started the match on the front foot, displaying attacking intent from the first whistle. Their efforts were rewarded in the 15th minute when Jadon Sancho showcased his flair to bypass Tyrick Mitchell with a clever move. Sancho laid the ball off to Palmer, who unleashed a precise low shot into the far corner, giving Chelsea a 1-0 lead. The Blues continued to dominate the first half, creating numerous chances to extend their advantage. Nicolas Jackson came close with a shot narrowly missing the target after being set up by Palmer. Moments later, Palmer himself was inches away from connecting with a cross from Pedro Neto. The young defender Josh Acheampong, making a rare start, also nearly scored with a header from a corner.

Palace fights back

Crystal Palace gradually grew into the game, taking advantage of some sloppy play from Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sánchez. While Chelsea remained the more threatening side before halftime, Palace began to assert themselves after the break. Eberechi Eze missed a golden opportunity to equalize, shooting wide from inside the box. Moments later, Sánchez redeemed himself with a crucial save, tipping a powerful header from Chris Richards over the crossbar. Chelsea had chances to kill the game in the second half but failed to capitalize. Enzo Fernández and Jackson both came agonizingly close, with their low shots narrowly missing the post. These missed opportunities would prove costly.

Mateta’s late equalizer

With just ten minutes left on the clock, Crystal Palace struck back. A lightning-fast counterattack saw Jean-Philippe Mateta in the right place at the right time, slotting the ball past Sánchez to make it 1-1. The goal sent Selhurst Park into raptures and left Chelsea scrambling for a response. Despite pushing forward in the dying minutes, the Blues were unable to regain their lead, and the match ended in a frustrating draw for Enzo Maresca’s side.

Defensive woes and missed chances

Chelsea’s inability to close out games has become a recurring theme in recent weeks. The absence of key defender Wesley Fofana due to a season-threatening injury has forced Maresca to rely on 18-year-old Josh Acheampong, who, despite a solid performance, lacked the experience to organize the backline during Palace’s late surge. In attack, Chelsea’s wastefulness in front of goal continues to haunt them. Palmer’s creativity was a bright spot, but the lack of clinical finishing from Jackson and others prevented the Blues from securing a much-needed victory.

Title hopes fading

With this draw, Chelsea remains in fourth place, further adrift in the title race as their winless streak stretches to four matches. Once seen as potential challengers, Maresca’s team now faces mounting pressure to turn their form around as Liverpool and Arsenal pull further ahead. For Crystal Palace, the draw provides a valuable point in their fight to move away from the relegation zone. For Chelsea, however, it’s another disappointing result in a month to forget. Maresca’s side must rediscover their scoring touch and defensive stability quickly if they hope to remain in contention for the league’s top spots. Their next matches could prove crucial in shaping the trajectory of their season.