Former Crystal Palace loanee Conor Gallagher returned to haunt his old club with a brace as Chelsea came from behind to seal a dramatic 3-1 win over the struggling Eagles on Monday.
Chelsea travelled to Selhurst Park looking to avoid a third successive Premier League defeat, with Mauricio Pochettino joining Palace boss Roy Hodgson in coming under pressure in recent weeks.
It looked like the visitors’ poor run might continue when Jefferson Lerma scored a memorable first goal for Palace after 30 minutes, lashing home from long range following some sloppy play from Chelsea.
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However, Chelsea emerged with far more intensity after half-time and immediately levelled as Gallagher turned home a tempting cross from the impressive Malo Gusto.
The game looked to be drifting to a draw as half chances came and went at either end, but Gallagher sent the away fans into raptures when he drilled Cole Palmer’s cutback home in the first minute of second-half stoppage time.
With Palace crestfallen, Palmer assisted a third on the break to make the points safe, teeing up Enzo Fernandez to finish into the top-left corner and cap another miserable outing for Palace.
⌛️ More late drama. @ChelseaFC secure the win! #CRYCHE pic.twitter.com/Tfsltqj0S8
— Premier League (@premierleague) February 12, 2024
With Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise both out injured, it felt like Palace would need something spectacular to open the scoring in a drab first half, and that’s exactly what they got on the half-hour mark.
Both Noni Madueke and Moises Caicedo were caught in possession in a poor area and Lerma profited, taking up the invitation to shoot by sending a rasping 25-yard strike into the top-right corner.
That was some strike from Jefferson Lerma ????????#CRYCHE | @CPFC pic.twitter.com/wWT6ZlF5DO
— Premier League (@premierleague) February 12, 2024
Chelsea did not attempt a shot until first-half stoppage time, with their first chance seeing Gallagher snatch at his finish after finding space on the right side of the box.
However, Gallagher had a goal to celebrate on his old stomping ground within two minutes of the restart. Caicedo’s pass released Gusto down the right-hand side, and the full-back picked out Gallagher for a powerful finish from near the penalty spot.
Chelsea played with far more endeavour in the second half but the game looked to be petering out towards a draw, with Ben Chilwell firing over before Petrovic kept out Matheus Franca’s shot at the other end.
However, there was to be a double sting in the tail for Palace. With the 90 minutes up, the lively Palmer raced onto Raheem Sterling’s throughball before cutting back for Gallagher, who stroked his finish into the bottom-left corner to provoke wild celebrations.
With Palace desperately throwing men forward, their woe was compounded three minutes later, with Palmer combining with Fernandez on the break before the Argentine steered his finish into the top-left corner.
+3 #CFC | #PalChe pic.twitter.com/fe7Uh96Sc3
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 12, 2024
