Eberechi Eze's second-half equalizer earned Crystal Palace their first point of the Premier League season in a 1-1 draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. After a sluggish start, Palace showed significant improvement in the second half to secure the draw. Chelsea had taken the lead in the 25th minute when Marc Guehi's misplaced forward run led to a defensive lapse. Noni Madueke's run down the right wing and his precise pass allowed Nicolas Jackson to score easily, putting the visitors at a disadvantage.
Crystal Palace, having lost their first two games of the season, came alive after the break. Chelsea's Palmer nearly extended the lead with a free kick, but it was Eze who turned the game around. In the 53rd minute, Eze capitalized on a rebound from Cheick Doucoure's blocked shot, curling a stunning strike from outside the box to level the score.
Both teams pushed for a winning goal, with Chelsea’s Levi Colwill and Palace’s Daichi Kamada coming close. Eze also had a shot blocked as Palace seemed to tire towards the end. Jackson had two promising chances to secure the win for Chelsea; he first hit the side netting and then was thwarted by a quick reaction from Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson.
Despite over eight minutes of added time, neither side could find a decisive goal, and the match concluded in a 1-1 draw. The result marked a crucial point for Crystal Palace, who had struggled in their opening games, while Chelsea missed an opportunity to claim all three points at home.
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