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Chelsea snatch last-gasp win at Palace
IMAGE: Conor Gallagher celebrates with Nicolas Jackson after scoring Chelsea’s first goal against Crystal Palace on Monday. Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Reuters
Chelsea came from behind to beat Crystal Palace 3-1 thanks to added time goals from Conor Gallagher and Enzo Fernandez in the English Premier League at Selhurst Park on Monday.
Gallagher put the visitors 2-1 up with his second goal of the match before Fernandez sealed the win as Chelsea rallied to secure the points that took them up to 10th in the standings.
The result adds to the pressure on Palace boss Roy Hodgson, whose side have not kept a clean sheet in 13 league matches. They sit 15th on 24 points, five points above the drop zone.
It was a tale of two halves for Chelsea who went into the break a goal down after a superb Jefferson Lerma strike on the half-hour had given the struggling hosts the lead.
“We saw two different sides. In the first half we were so flat and I was so disappointed. In the second half much better and I am very pleased with how we finished the game,” Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino told the BBC.
Gallagher’s first goal against the club where he had a spell on loan in 2021-22 came two minutes after the break as he neatly side-footed Malo Gusto’s cross from the right high into the net.
The England midfielder struck again in the 91st, also the product of an attack down the right as he slotted Cole Palmer’s cross into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.
IMAGE: Conor Gallagher scores Chelsea’s second goal in the 91st minute. Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Reuters
Another Chelsea counter attack, and another Palmer assist, saw the visitors seal the points in the 94th through Fernandez.
The third goal “led to an aggravated defeat but I don’t think that’s a fair reflection on the way the game was played. I think we deserved to come off with at least one point,” said Hodgson.
Lerma had put Palace ahead with a spectacular strike from outside the box into the top right corner after Tyrick Mitchell won the ball from Noni Madueke as Chelsea tried to recover from a weak headed clearance by Thiago Silva.
Chelsea managed just one shot off target in the first half, despite commanding almost 80% of the possession.
The Blues were similarly dominant on the ball after the break but decidedly more attacking after a lacklustre opening period in which they posed little threat going forward.
Hodgson was unable to select his key attacking duo of Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze, who between them have scored 11 of Palace’s 27 league goals this season, due to injuries.
Adding to Palace’s woes was the absence of England defender Marc Guehi, who picked up a knee injury in their 4-1 defeat at rivals Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend.
Monday’s result follows Chelsea’s 3-1 victory at Aston Villa in their FA Cup forth round replay last Wednesday. It was also their 13th straight league win over Palace – a club record.
They visit champions Manchester City on Saturday, while Palace travel to 18th-placed Everton next Monday.
Juventus stunned at home by struggling Udinese
IMAGE: Udinese’s players celebrate after Lautaro Giannetti scored the winning goal against Juventus. Photograph: Massimo Pinca/Reuters
Juventus’ title hopes suffered a blow in a 1-0 home defeat by lowly Udinese in Serie A on Monday after defender Lautaro Giannetti scored in the first half to leave Massimiliano Allegri’s side without a win in three games.
Juve are second on 53 points, seven adrift of Inter Milan, who have a game in hand, and a point ahead of AC Milan.
Inter won 4-2 at AS Roma on Saturday while third-placed Milan earned a 1-0 win over visiting champions Napoli on Sunday.
“We could have done better,” Allegri told DAZN. “In the first half we played a good game technically but when you have the opportunity you have to score.
“The ambition of keeping up with Inter was important, but the Nerazzurri were built to have the splendid season they are having.
“Juventus have started a different path two years ago and the primary objective is to return to the Champions League.”
Juve were the better team, with Federico Chiesa and Arkadiusz Milik up front in Dusan Vlahovic’s absence as the Serbia forward sat out the match with a thigh issue.
But the visitors took the lead against the run of play in the 25th minute when Giannetti capitalised on a defensive error to net on the half-volley from close range after a free kick.
“He is a silent leader, he speaks little and hits a lot,” Udinese coach Gabriele Cioffi told Sky Sport.
“He brought a lot to our dressing room in terms of serenity and management. Exactly what we were missing, because we are a young team.”
Milik could have responded to going behind four minutes later while Adrien Rabiot had a good chance shortly afterwards before Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye pulled off a superb save to keep out Milik’s point-blank header just before the break.
Udinese, who barely had the ball after the restart, defended with a low block, seeking chances on counter attack.
Juve thought they had equalised on the hour following a corner but the effort was disallowed because Federico Chiesa’s cross went out of play.
Juventus had won their previous four league matches against Udinese without conceding a goal.
They next travel to relegation-threatened Hellas Verona on Saturday. Udinese, who moved up to 15th with 22 points from 24 games, host fellow strugglers Cagliari on Sunday.
