Relive Jefferson Lerma’s great goal against Chelsea in the Premier League

The Chronicle of Crystal Palace vs. Chelsea

When Chelsea was close to its fifteenth defeat of the season in the Premier League, Chelsea went on a rampage in added time to score two goals from Connor Gallagher and the Argentine Enzo Fernández that tipped the balance of a very difficult match against Crystal Palace (1 -3).

It seems that Chelsea are destined to suffer this season in each of their games. There is no quiet day at the office for Mauricio Pochettino’s men, who faced their umpteenth test of the course and came out unscathed thanks to a final squeeze when the score seemed destined for a tie. At 1-1 in the 91st minute, Gallagher and Enzo Fernández appeared to score consecutively and end the agony.

The rollercoaster of results that Chelsea are experiencing has not allowed them to experience many periods of tranquility. Their latest scores, two defeats against Liverpool (4-1) and Wolverhampton (2-4), invited a new day with the magnifying glass placed on the Argentine coach.

Although the victory over Aston Villa in the replay of the round of 32 of the English Cup alleviated the situation, the erratic progress in the Premier League, eleventh before the start of the day, demanded an immediate reaction from Chelsea.

Pochettino almost repeated the same Aston Villa eleven. He trusted the block that worked. Only Badiashile gave up his place in the center of defense to Thiago Silva, who rested in the Cup to gain strength for the challenge of Crystal Palace. And, with almost the same men who worked just five days before, Chelsea once again showed its grayest face in the first half.

In fact, in the first 45 minutes he only shot once and it was in added time. And not even Galagher’s attempt saw the goal. That was all the offensive baggage of a team that was required to be much more dynamic with the ball against an opponent that they defended with a low block.

Chelsea had to find men like Palmer, but the lack of speed in the circulation of the ball and the lack of ideas turned one of their best men into an island. And, in front, the Crystal Palace, well armed at the back, came out of the cave from time to time with devilish speed and with great danger.

And, as a result of his attempts, in one of them he hit the target with a great goal from the Colombian Jefferson Lerma, who took a shot from outside the area that was unappealable for Petrovic, who saw a missile pass by due to the defensive passivity of his companions.

Once again, Chelsea had to row against the current. Problems arose again and Pochettino decided at half-time that the solution could come with Madueke leaving the field and Nkunku coming on. The change could have had an effect, because in a couple of minutes, he managed to tie the game with a play on the right wing by Gusto that finished into the Gallagher net.

Chelsea found themselves with the equalizer at the first opportunity and psychologically Gallagher’s goal caused a change of dynamic in the match. Unlike in the first half, Chelsea managed to dominate the ball with more sense. He got the speed he needed to circulate the ball with more danger and became master of the game.

But that dominance translated into almost nothing. It was absolutely sterile. And, on top of that, the bubble was broken in the last quarter, in which the tables were evened and Palace was even able to score with a shot from Matheus França that Petrovic stopped with problems.

The minutes passed and Chelsea wanted to and couldn’t, a story too often repeated this season. But on this occasion, the blood did not reach the river. An arrival from behind by Gallagher and a counterattack culminated by Enzo Fernández, avoided greater evils for a team that barely escaped and finally smiled in the Premier League.

With information from Agencia EFE.