Chelsea came from behind to beat Crystal Palace 3-1 on Monday evening thanks to extra-time goals from Conor Gallagher and Enzo Fernandez in the Premier League at Selhurst Park.
Gallagher put the visitors 2–1 ahead with his second goal of the match before Fernandez sealed the win as Chelsea rallied to secure the points that moved them up to 10th in the standings.
It was a tale of two halves for the Blues, who went into half-time a goal behind after an excellent strike from Jefferson Lerma before Gallagher fired home an equalizer in the 47th minute.
Monday’s result was Chelsea’s thirteenth consecutive win against Crystal Palace in the Premier League, a club record.
Mail Sports Kieran Gill looks at some of the things you might have missed.
Matheus Franca signed for Crystal Palace from Flamengo last summer instead of Chelsea
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New Palace’s ace makes his point
Chelsea were keen to sign Matheus Franca last summer but it is believed that their intention to send him away on an immediate loan to one of their affiliated clubs was not enticing enough for the 19-year-old Brazilian.
Instead, he signed for Crystal Palace for £26 million from Flamengo, with his contract even including a Ballon d’Or nomination clause.
Franca and his teammates started on the left wing and did their best to torment Chelsea right-back Malo Gusto, who struggled in the first half but then assisted Conor Gallagher’s equalizer.
Blues’ blank in the first half is a far cry from Women’s
It wasn’t until the 45th minute and 45th minute of this match that Chelsea had a shot of any kind, with Conor Gallagher dragging an effort wide.
Chelsea Women certainly showed Crystal Palace how to attack in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Sunday with thirteen attempts.
Mayra Ramirez scored an outrageous winner for Chelsea Women in the FA Cup win
Mayra Ramirez scored the winner – an outrageous tap-in after a cross – as she scored her first goal since Chelsea broke the world record for a female footballer three weeks ago. The Colombian, 24, cost £384,000 plus £42,600 in add-ons when bought from Levante.
Chelsea are top of the Women’s Super League. The less said about how the men’s season has been, the better.
Good choice from the Selhurst Park DJ as we waited for the referee team to sort out their technical issues so the second half could start. The silence was broken when Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds suddenly started playing
Cech provides a surprise
Petr Cech’s surprise appearance on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football coincided with his interview on Jake Humphrey’s High Performance Podcast, teased as: ‘Why I left Chelsea.’
Former Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech made a surprise appearance on MNF on Sky Sports
Cech’s sudden presence in the media means we can only assume that the non-disclosure agreement he had with Chelsea has expired, and it has now been 19 months since he left the club as a technical advisor.
Cech was loaned out to the Belfast Giants ice hockey team last week, although the Premier League star returns to the Oxford City Stars.
Palace fans vent their frustration
There was no shortage of banners from frustrated Crystal Palace fans.
“Weak club culture and direction,” read one. “Advocates ignored and taken for granted,” another. ‘Weak transfer policy. Youth scapegoated,” a third.
Passions can run high in Selhurst Park. Even one steward standing next to the media seats was singing his heart out.
Crystal Palace fans held up banners protesting the club’s ownership of Selhurst Park
Chelsea fans sleep in to help the homeless
Sometimes the good work of fan groups can go unnoticed, but one initiative organized by the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust is worth a column.
The CST is arranging for a maximum of 200 fans to sleep under Stamford Bridge’s East Stand next month. Not in a soft bed with pillows, but in a sleeping bag on top of a flattened cardboard box.
The hope is to raise tens of thousands of people to fight homelessness and support vulnerable and disabled veterans so they can live fulfilling lives.
Proceeds from this ‘Big Stamford Bridge Sleep Out’ on March 23 will go to the Stoll and Barons Court Project charities.
Mauricio Pochettino invited Charlie Holland, 14, and Rio Ngumoha, 15, to first-team training
Great invitation from Poch Academy stars
The great thing about Chelsea’s academy, which is based on the same training ground as the first team – unlike other Premier League clubs such as West Ham – is that it fosters a good working relationship between the two.
Ahead of this match, Charlie Holland, 14, and Rio Ngumoha, 15, trained alongside Raheem Sterling and Co under Mauricio Pochettino.
The Netherlands were also invited to train with the big boys when Frank Lampard was manager last season.
