Chelsea’s hopes of reigniting their Premier League title bid took another hit as they were held to a 1-1 draw at Selhurst Park on Saturday.
Jean-Philippe Mateta’s late equalizer secured a vital point for Crystal Palace in their battle against relegation.
Cole Palmer gave the Blues an early lead in the 14th minute, finishing clinically after a brilliant setup by Jadon Sancho.
Sancho weaved through Palace’s defense to find the 22-year-old in the box.
Palmer’s composed strike into the bottom corner marked his 13th league goal of the season, adding to his impressive tally of six assists.
The turning point came in the 82nd minute when a poor pass from goalkeeper Robert Sanchez left Chelsea exposed.
Palace capitalized, with Eberechi Eze leading a quick counter-attack before selflessly setting up Mateta for an easy tap-in.
The draw extends Chelsea’s winless run to four league games, leaving Enzo Maresca’s side further adrift in the title race.
Meanwhile, Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace moved six points clear of the relegation zone, extending their unbeaten run to three matches.
