This game is a must win for Chelsea so they can stay in the top four to win Champions League football for next season. Palace also need to win this to gain stability and stay out of the relegation battle. As the game stars Chelsea have the first chance as Reece James plays the ball down the line to Willian who breezes past Gary Cahill of injures himself in the chase. Willian runs towards the by-line and pulls the ball back to Giroud who manages to steer the ball in and make the score 1-0 to Chelsea in the 6th minute. Now Willian drives towards the Palace box, he plays a pass to Giroud who plays it back to him. Willian then plays the ball out to Pulisic who smashes the ball into the roof of the Palace net putting Chelsea firmly in the lead after 27 minutes. Chelsea continue to have the main chances after Pulisic tees the ball up to Willian hits the ball but the Palace goalkeeper manages to save it. Palace have the next main chance when Zaha collects a stray ball in the Chelsea half he dribbles forward and sees an opening to take a shot, the ball rockets into the Chelsea net in an un-saveable position now making the score 2-1 going into the second half.
During the start of the second half there is little action to note and neither keeper is troubled until the 71st minute when Ruben Loftus-Cheek plays the ball to the feet of Tammy Abraham who places the ball into the far corner of the Palace net giving Chelsea an insurance goal. Palace have a chance when the ball is played into the feet of Patrick Van Aanholt for manages to play the ball across the goal face into Benteke who taps the ball into an empty Chelsea net making the score 3-2 in favour of Chelsea. Palace then have the last chance of the game when the ball is crossed into the box towards Scott Dann who headers the ball across goal and off the Chelsea post. Theres a goal mouth scramble but the ball is cleared and Chelsea escape a draw, the final score ends 3-2 to Chelsea.
Chaz's Football Blog 