Noni Madueke steps up to save Chelsea from familiar frustration

The Dramatic Conclusion

Chelsea needed an 89th-minute penalty from substitute Noni Madueke to edge past Crystal Palace 2-1 at Stamford Bridge and climb back into the top half of the Premier League table. Despite a fluent performance for much of the match, it looked like it would be another frustrating home outing for Mauricio Pochettino’s side.

The Opener

Chelsea opened the scoring after 13 minutes, with Malo Gusto’s pass forward leading to a critical slip that allowed Christopher Nkunku to feed Mudryk to score his first goal of the game.

A Dominant Display

There was a fluency about Chelsea throughout the match that has rarely been seen in recent weeks, with Nkunku and Jackson creating several chances that nearly led to more goals for the home side.

Palace’s Equalizer

Jordan Ayew delivered a laser-like pass to Olise, who confidently lashed the ball inside the Chelsea goalkeeper’s near post, making it 1-1 just before halftime.

Palace’s Belief

The equalizer brought belief for Crystal Palace, who registered the first chance of the second half with a free-kick from Eze. Despite this being against the run of play, the visitors went toe-to-toe with their hosts and nearly snatched a win.

The Dramatic Conclusion

With the specter of another disappointing home result looming, Chelsea was desperate for a winner. Madueke went over Eze’s leg, resulting in a VAR review and a penalty awarded in the 89th minute, which allowed the substitute to score the winning goal. This concluded the match with a dramatic twist in Chelsea’s favor.