Hakim Ziyech scored a late winner to lead Chelsea to a narrow 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace in the Premier League at Selhurst Park on Saturday.
Crystal Palace had the first big chance of the game, with Michael Olise’s effort missing narrowly just seven minutes in. Chelsea then created multiple opportunities, but Christian Pulisic skied his effort while Antonio Rudiger and N’Golo Kante had their efforts saved. Palace had another huge chance towards the end of the first period, but Wilfried Zaha could not find the target from a tight angle.
The contest continued in the same manner post the half-time break, with neither team finding the net. However, Chelsea seemed to have broken the deadlock when Hakim Ziyech buried home the rebound after Romelu Lukaku’s initial effort was parried into his path. But the goal did not stand as the Belgian international had strayed offside.
As time wore on, it looked like the spoils would be shared at Selhurst Park until the 89th minute, when Marcos Alonso’s deep cross was volleyed into the net by Ziyech to all but win it for the Blues. Palace had a great chance to level things up in stoppage time, but Zaha failed to hit the target again, as the reigning European and world champions held on for a narrow 1-0 win in the London derby.
It was far from a convincing display from Chelsea, but the result ensures they have a seven-point lead over Manchester United in fourth, while they trail leaders Manchester City by 13 following their slip up against Tottenham. Meanwhile, Palace remain in the bottom half of the table, occupying 13th place.
Crystal Palace Player Ratings
Vicente Guaita: 7/10
11' | Palace 0-0 Chelsea
UNBELIEVABLE save from Vicente Guaita. Rudiger hit this ball from 30 yards and it was going to curl into the top corner. pic.twitter.com/Lkz1HMPKZI
— Matchday365 (@Matchday365) February 19, 2022
The veteran goalkeeper pulled off a fine save to deny Antonio Rudiger’s effort from long range before making another good stop from Kante’s attempt to keep Palace in the game. However, he had to be taken off injured at half-time.
Nathaniel Clyne: 6/10
Making just his second league start of the season, the ex-Liverpool man was largely solid at the back, keeping Kai Havertz quiet. However, he could have done more to push forward and provide attacking width.
Joachim Andersen: 7/10
The Dane was rock-solid at the back for the most part, winning his battle against Romelu Lukaku and ensuring that the Belgian did not have any meaningful impact on the game.
Marc Guehi: 6.5/10
Not as sharp as his defensive partner, the former Chelsea prospect had one or two iffy moments here and there but was generally assured in his defensive work and won his fair share of duels on the afternoon.
Tyrick Mitchell: 6/10
The Crystal Palace left-back had a good game until the last minute, when he was dragged way too narrow inside his box, allowing Ziyech space to score the winning goal. Until then, Mitchell had been solid defensively and provided a good outlet going forward, supporting the likes of Zaha and Olise.
James McArthur: 6.5/10
Reinstated to the lineup in the absence of Conor Gallagher, the seasoned midfielder gave it his all, pushing and pressing his Chelsea counterparts in midfield and keeping things ticking along with crisp passes. McArthur provided good defensive support in the centre.
Cheikhou Kouyate: 6.5/10
The former West Ham man put in a good shift in the holding midfield role, protecting the backline with a strong, robust display. Kouyate was not afraid to get into tackles and tried to stop Chelsea from settling into their rhythm.
Jeffrey Schlupp: 6/10
The 29-year-old battled hard in the middle of the park, getting into several duels and winning a good percentage of those. Schlupp played a part in the early chance for Olise and added bite in midfield for Palace.
Michael Olise: 7/10
??????? Michael Olise v. Chelsea (first half):
• 2 key passes (match-high)
• 2 accurate crosses (match-high)
• 3 fouls won (match-high)
• 4 duels won (team-high)
• 1 big chance created (match-high) pic.twitter.com/GcXSUD4zwE— Matchday365 (@Matchday365) February 19, 2022
The brightest of the Palace players on the afternoon, Olise had a hand in almost everything positive that the Eagles conjured up. The 20-year-old had a good chance early on but missed narrowly and then created a fine opportunity for Zaha on the cusp of half-time. His set-piece deliveries were on point as well. Promising.
Jordan Ayew: 6/10
Preferred over Odsonne Edouard and Christian Benteke, Ayew put in a typically hard-working display as he tracked back well and was always at hand to provide defensive support when his team needed it. However, he did not have much impact in the final third of the pitch.
Wilfried Zaha: 6/10
The Ivory Coast international started centrally but drifted out wide regularly to try and get on the ball and make things happen. Zaha had a great chance to put Palace in front but fired wide from a tight angle and saw another effort miss in stoppage time.
Zaha has been tooooo close too many times omg
— Anita Abayomi (@FLWN_) February 19, 2022
SUBSTITUTES
Jack Butland: 6/10
On for Guaita at half-time, Butland made a good stop to deny Lukaku but parried it straight to Ziyech, who scored. He was saved by the offside call.
Eberechi Eze: N/A
Replaced Ayew with less than ten minutes left.
Jean-Philippe Mateta: N/A
Late substitute for McArthur.
Chelsea Player Ratings
Edouard Mendy: 6/10
Playing his first Premier League game since early January, the Senegalese shot-stopper was hardly called into action on the afternoon, with Palace being unable to keep their strikes on target. A fairly comfortable clean sheet.
Andreas Christensen: 6/10
Starting at right-back, Christensen did not have the easiest of starts, with Zaha getting plenty of joy on his side. However, he grew more and more solid as the game wore on, helping Chelsea lock their hosts out.
Thiago Silva: 7/10
Handed a start despite several important games coming up, Silva enjoyed a straightforward outing at Selhurst Park. The 37-year-old’s positioning was spot on throughout, allowing him to cut out any potential threat with comfort.
Antonio Rudiger: 7/10
Hard-fought result – crucial W ?????? #cleansheet #Hustle #AlwaysBelieve pic.twitter.com/rIslFv96eA
— Antonio Rüdiger (@ToniRuediger) February 19, 2022
The German international was his usual aggressive self on the pitch as he made some good recoveries and was unafraid of charging out from the back with the ball. Rudiger almost scored a screamer from distance, but Guaita’s fingertip save denied him.
Malang Sarr: 6/10
Picked over Marcos Alonso at left-back, the former OGC Nice ace gave a good account of himself, proving to be a handy outlet going forward. He fashioned a chance for Kante in the first half with a fine pass. However, he was guilty of giving away some needless fouls and was booked.
Jorginho: 5.5/10
Back into the starting XI after sitting out of the Club World Cup final, the Italian found it difficult to get into his rhythm as Palace did well to make things hard for him in midfield. He never really got going and was taken off as Chelsea searched for a winner.
N’Golo Kante: 5/10
The diminutive Frenchman had the best chance for Chelsea in the first half but could not beat Guaita in the Palace goal. Kante was given the licence to break forward from midfield, but little came of it. At the same time, he was unusually sloppy with his off-the-ball work on the afternoon. He made way Mateo Kovacic in the second half.
Hakim Ziyech: 8/10
The Moroccan playmaker was the main creative outlet for Chelsea and often caused Crystal Palace problems with his deliveries into the box. Ziyech created a good chance for Pulisic in the first period and sent in more teasing deliveries into the box, but his teammates were not always on the same wavelength.
3 goals in his last 3 Premier League games for Hakim Ziyech… ?
??????. pic.twitter.com/FA8mh4tUwj
— LDN (@LDNFootbalI) February 19, 2022
The ex-Ajax star showed good awareness to bury home the rebound after Lukaku’s initial effort was saved, but saw the goal chalked off by VAR. He continued to probe, though, and won it for Chelsea with a late volleyed goal.
Christian Pulisic: 4/10
Having enjoyed an impressive record against the Eagles in the past, Pulisic had a great opportunity to add to his tally on Saturday but skied his effort after being found by Ziyech. He did not look comfortable playing through the middle and was a peripheral figure for large parts. A late shift to the left flank did not change that.
Kai Havertz: 4/10
The hero of the Club World Cup final, Havertz had a forgettable game at Selhurst Park. He hardly made any notable impact starting on the left flank and never really managed to get into the game on the afternoon.
Romelu Lukaku: 4/10
After two goals in two games in the Club World Cup, it felt like Lukaku was turning over a new page in his second stint at Chelsea. But that was not the case, as he hardly got any touch on the ball throughout the ninety minutes – just seven overall. While he did not get enough service, his movement was not sharp enough for his teammates to pick him out.
Romelu Lukaku’s game by numbers vs. Crystal Palace:
7 touches
4 accurate passes
2 offsides
0/4 duels won
0 touches in opp. box
0 take-ons
0 chances created
0 shotsHe played the full 90 minutes. ? pic.twitter.com/xZJRy2fDAQ
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) February 19, 2022
SUBSTITUTES
Ruben Loftus-Cheek: 5/10
On for Jorginho in the 72nd minute and added some energy.
Mateo Kovacic: 6/10
He came on for Kante in the 72nd minute and created the chance for Lukaku, but the Belgian had strayed offside.
Marcos Alonso: 6.5/10
He replaced Sarr and got the assist for the winning goal.
