Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace: Blues Frustrated as VAR Plays Its Part
Chelsea began their Premier League season with a frustrating stalemate at Stamford Bridge, as an organized Crystal Palace side held on for a deserved 0-0 draw. Despite dominant possession and a host of new signings on show, the Blues could not break down their resilient London visitors.
Key Moments
- Early Threat from Palace: The visitors thought they had taken the lead in the first half when Eberechi Eze’s well-struck free kick found the net. However, after a VAR review, the goal was disallowed because captain Marc Guéhi was adjudged to be too close to the Chelsea wall, leaving Palace fans aggrieved and the score still level.
- Chelsea Lack Cutting Edge: The hosts pushed forward for much of the game with 71% possession and 19 shots. But just three were on target, and Dean Henderson in the Palace goal looked comfortable, including during a frantic spell of stoppage-time pressure by Chelsea’s late substitutes.
- Resilient Defending: Palace defended with discipline throughout, registering more tackles won and more clear-cut chances than the Blues, underlining their threat on the break.
- Low on Drama, High on Tension: Refereeing decisions contributed to the game’s tense atmosphere, with both teams collecting multiple yellow cards and supporters left grumbling about the lack of attacking fluency.
Stats at a Glance
| Chelsea | Crystal Palace | |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 71% | 29% |
| Shots | 19 | 12 |
| On Target | 3 | 4 |
| Corners | 11 | 2 |
| Tackles Won % | 53.8% | 81.3% |
| Yellow Cards | 2 | 3 |
Final Thoughts
Chelsea’s highly anticipated attack failed to fire, and the game’s most memorable moment will be the disallowed Eze strike. Palace, meanwhile, will be happy with a hard-earned point, showing organization and spirit.
The season is long, but for Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, this match underlines the need for attacking sharpness and a quick chemistry boost among his new recruits.
