Chelsea’s Kai Havertz celebrates scoring their first objective.
| Photo Credit: Reuters
Chelsea eased the stress on supervisor Graham Potter by securing only a second Premier League victory since October with a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Kai Havertz headed within the profitable objective within the sixty fourth minute in entrance of Chelsea’s newest signing, Ukraine winger Mykhailo Mudryk, who was paraded on the sector at halftime.
Chelsea’s Mykhailo Mudryk, holds Ukreainian flag and applauds throughout a half time of the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge Stadium in London, Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023. (AP Photo/David Cliff)
| Photo Credit:
David Cliff
It was a poignant day in west London as Chelsea paid tribute to former striker Gianluca Vialli, who died this month on the age of 58, earlier than the match with a bunch of the Italian’s former teammates returning to pay their respects.
It contributed to a sense of togetherness between gamers and supporters at Stamford Bridge because the staff put a dreadful final seven days — which culminated in a pink card for brand spanking new signing Joao Felix in a defeat at Fulham on Thursday — behind them.
Fans present a banner in tribute to the late Gianluca Vialli earlier than the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge Stadium in London, Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023.
| Photo Credit:
AP
It was solely a second win within the final 10 video games within the league to take a few of the warmth off Potter, with Tenth-place Chelsea transferring stage on factors with Liverpool in ninth.
Palace had the primary actual likelihood of the sport after 20 minutes, when Michael Olise allowed the ball to drop over his shoulder and drilled an effort towards Kepa Arrizabalaga’s prime nook from 25 yards (meters). The Chelsea goalkeeper did brilliantly to finger-tip behind at full stretch.
But it was the hosts who had the very best likelihood of the primary half within the thirty third minute when Havertz rose unmarked to fulfill Hakim Ziyech’s whipped cross, with the ahead solely capable of land his header onto the roof of the online.
Just earlier than halftime, Conor Gallagher broke away down Palace’s proper and fired a low ball throughout objective that Lewis Hall was unable to transform with a first-time effort on the again publish. Ziyech then noticed a fierce drive from the sting of the realm tipped over by Vicente Guaita as Chelsea completed the half strongly.
Chelsea’s Kai Havertz celebrates with teammates after scoring his facet’s opening objective through the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge Stadium in London, Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023.
| Photo Credit:
AP
The hosts’ confidence grew within the second half and Havertz once more went shut when he latched onto Gallagher’s through-ball down the left, however his low drive was saved.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was despatched on by Potter on the hour having recovered from a again damage — the primary of the supervisor’s lengthy checklist of absentees to make a return — and Chelsea quickly had the lead.
Ziyech collected the ball close to the left touchline and, as his whipped cross evaded Palace’s protection, there was Havertz climbing highest to plant his header previous Guaita.
Havertz ought to have put the sport past Palace when he darted behind the protection to fulfill Mason Mount’s pushed cross, however this time his path was missing as a beautiful likelihood to seal the win went begging.
And Chelsea was virtually made to pay minutes later when Cheick Doucoure unleashed a fierce drive from 30 meters that required a fantastic cease from Arrizabalaga to protect his staff’s lead.
