EPL: Estevao shines as Chelsea ride Palmer absence to beat 10-man Palace
Chelsea eased past Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park to claim a controlled Premier League victory, overcoming the absence of injured playmaker Cole Palmer to return to the top four.
Estevao steps up early
Palace started brightly and threatened to take the lead when Jean-Philippe Mateta broke through on goal, only to fire straight at Robert Sanchez.
Chelsea responded through Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo, but it was 18-year-old Estevao Willian who broke the deadlock in the 34th minute.
Capitalising on a poor back-pass from Jaydee Canvot, Estevao burst past Tyrick Mitchell and drove a low finish beyond Dean Henderson to put the visitors ahead.
The Brazilian winger remained influential before the break, testing Palace’s back line with his movement and direct running.
Joao Pedro and Fernandez seal control
Chelsea tightened their grip early in the second half. Estevao clipped a precise pass into Joao Pedro, who spun away from Adam Wharton and finished through Henderson to make it 2-0.
Following a VAR review, Chelsea were awarded a penalty after Canvot was judged to have handled Joao Pedro’s goalbound effort.
Fernandez converted confidently to extend the lead and remove any doubt over the outcome.
Wharton sent off as Palace fade
Palace’s hopes of a comeback ended when Wharton was dismissed, picking up two yellow cards within six minutes for separate fouls on Caicedo.
Reduced to 10 men, the hosts struggled to regain momentum.
Chris Richards headed in a late consolation from a corner in the 88th minute, but it did little to alter the balance of the contest. Palace slipped from 13th to 15th in the table, remaining eight points clear of the relegation zone.
Rosenior’s Chelsea building momentum
The win marked back-to-back Premier League victories for new Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior, the club’s first such run since November.
Chelsea moved back into the top four, leapfrogging Liverpool, although they have played a game more than Manchester United.
