Chelsea cling on to win five-goal thriller
Seventh win in eight games takes them one point ahead of Leicester
Chelsea moved up to third in the Premier League table after holding out to win a 3-2 thriller at Crystal Palace, while Leicester City could only manage a draw at 10-man Arsenal on Tuesday.
Frank Lampard’s men edged closer to sealing a place in next season’s Uefa Champions League as a seventh win in eight games takes them one point ahead of Leicester and opened up a five-point lead on fifthplaced Manchester United.
The Blues were fortunate when opening the scoring at Selhurst Park as former Chelsea captain Gary Cahill fell to the ground clutching his hamstring, which allowed Willian to tee up Olivier Giroud for his fourth goal in six games.
Christian Pulisic’s form since the Premier League’s restart has led to comparisons with Eden Hazard, the man he replaced at Stamford Bridge, and the Belgian would have been proud of Chelsea’s second as the 21-yearold American skipped past Joel Ward and hammered in off the inside of the near post.
“Christian is hugely important,” Lampard said.
“You look at the top attacking players in the world and they score goals and make assists regularly that win games and at the moment he is doing that, so I am delighted with him.”
Lampard’s men failed to capitalise on their dominance and were on the back foot when Wilfried Zaha thundered a shot past Kepa Arrizabalaga from long range for Palace’s first goal in four games.
Chelsea looked to have sealed the three points again when substitutes Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Tammy Abraham combined for the latter to restore a two-goal cushion 19 minutes from time.
A minute later, though, Palace were back in when a brilliant move culminated in Patrick van Aanholt squaring for Christian Benteke to tap in just his second goal of the season.
Chelsea were left clinging on in stoppage time as Kepa turned Scott Dann’s header off the inside of the post and only a challenge from Kurt Zouma denied Benteke a second.
Leicester have now won just one of their six games since the restart to see their lead over the pack for a top-four placing whittled away, but were grateful for a 1-1 draw at the Emirates against Arsenal.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang swept home the opener for the Gunners as Kasper Schmeichel kept Leicester in the game with a stunning save.
Lacazette also saw a goal disallowed for offside after the break before the game turned when Eddie Nketiah was shown a straight red card after a VAR review.
Leicester made the man advantage count as Jamie Vardy pounced to slot home Demarai Gray’s cross.
Arsenal are nine points behind with four games to go.
At the other end of the table, Danny Welbeck’s first Premier League goal for Watford was as valuable as it was spectacular as the Hornets beat Norwich City 2-1 to move four points clear of the relegation zone.
Defeat pushes Norwich closer to the drop. They may be relegated this weekend if they lose to West Ham United. —