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Chelsea 4-0 Crystal Palace: Report and highlights as Blues return to winning ways
Ben Chilwell vindicated his £45million transfer with a Premier League debut goal and assist as Chelsea thumped Crystal Palace 4-0 at Stamford Bridge.
The England full-back drilled home to put Chelsea ahead following a cagey, goalless first half, before laying on Kurt Zouma’s header.
Jorginho then stroked home two penalties in four minutes to seal a comfortable Chelsea win, their first home victory in the new league campaign.
Tammy Abraham tried to take the second of Chelsea’s two late penalties but was overruled by skipper Cesar Azpilicueta, who handed the ball to Jorginho.
The Italy midfielder had missed from the spot in Chelsea’s 2-0 home loss to Liverpool but delivered twice here, courtesy of his trademark skip-step run-up.
Chilwell showed exactly why Frank Lampard was so desperate to bring him to the Blues from Leicester in an impressive all-court performance.
The 23-year-old provided deadly set-piece delivery all day and kick-started the second-half goal glut with a fine finish.
Palace’s stifling tactics started well before kick-off, with the Eagles late out of the changing rooms to leave Chelsea’s quizzical players waving their arms in frustration.
Joel Ward got away with a sneaky elbow to Timo Werner’s face, with only the light contact letting the full-back escape censure.
Chelsea dominated possession but again lacked the speed of passing or fluidity of movement to break down the extremely well-drilled visitors.
Kai Havertz’s class and time on the ball stood out though, and the Germany playmaker’s ghosting run and pass laid on an inviting opening for Werner.
⚽️ Ben Chilwell scores on his Premier League debut for Chelsea!
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) October 3, 2020
😬 Some poor defending from Crystal Palace played a big part though.#CHECRY | #CFC pic.twitter.com/UU5gbuL6Ct
His national team-mate raced onto the ball only to scuff an attempted whipped effort, leaving Vicente Guaita a facile claim.
Abraham’s smart run across the face of goal not only opened up space for Havertz, it also perhaps provided the better option for a threaded pass.
Jorginho blazed over after Thiago Silva’s neatly flicked header, and then Callum Hudson-Odoi overhit a potentially threatening ball designed for Chilwell.
The bullish N’Golo Kante drove through midfield and split the defence with a delicate through ball – only for Abraham and Werner to make the same run and fluff a fine opening.
Mamadou Sakho nodded wide from a Palace corner in the visitors’ sole chance of the half, and the teams duly reached the interval in deadlock.
The stalemate was lifted quickly after the restart, however, when Chilwell drilled home sweetly for the hosts.
Hudson-Odoi lost then recovered the ball in the Palace box and laid off to Azpilicueta, and his deflected shot lofted across the box.
Abraham muscled his way to a smart flick-on, allowing the onrushing Chilwell to blast into the net.
⚽️ Tammy Abraham wants the spot kick but Jorginho, Chelsea's actual penalty taker, makes it 4-0!
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) October 3, 2020
💪 It's turned out to be a comfortable afternoon for the hosts...#CHECRY | #CFC pic.twitter.com/MUYrWrznHc
Chelsea should have doubled their lead minutes later, but the unmarked Zouma could only head wide from Chilwell’s inch-perfect corner.
Zouma quickly atoned for that glaring miss by nodding home another Chilwell cross however, easing personal and collective Chelsea frustrations as the hosts took control.
Abraham should have made it three when thumping a header after Hudson-Odoi had skinned Tyrick Mitchell and delivered a fine cross.
The England striker won a penalty shortly afterwards though, drawing a foul from Mitchell.
Jorginho duly stepped up and converted in his typical calm fashion, leaving Chelsea in total control heading into the final stages.
Four minutes later Jorginho was hopping and skipping his way to another penalty goal, but only after Abraham had tried to swipe the spot-kick.
Skipper Azpilicueta was having none of it, calmly removing the ball from Abraham’s grasp and handing it to Jorginho.