Crystal Palace 1-3 Chelsea: Estêvão brilliance helps Rosenior's side seal 3pts

Chelsea moved into the Champions League places with a 3-1 win over out-of-form Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

Match Report

Estevao, Joao Pedro, and Enzo Fernandez were all on target against Palace, who had Adam Wharton sent off before netting a late consolation through Chris Richards.

Jean-Philippe Mateta was foiled one-on-one by Robert Sanchez and, after Fernandez and Moises Caicedo missed good chances, Chelsea went ahead when Estevao pounced on a woeful Jaydee Canvot backpass and fired past Dean Henderson in the 34th minute.

Five minutes after the break, Estevao clipped a ball for Joao Pedro to race onto, and he turned inside Wharton before smashing high past Henderson to double the lead.

Fernandez made sure of the points when he coolly rolled home from the penalty spot, with Darren England awarding a spot-kick for handball against Canvot after a pitch-side review.

Palace's misery was compounded when Wharton was shown a second yellow card for a late tackle on Caicedo, with Richards' late close-range header – coming just moments after a terrific Sanchez save from Jefferson Lerma – proving a mere footnote for an Eagles side who are on an 11-match winless run.

Data Debrief: Brazilian bravado as Chelsea cruise

Estevao is one of the most exciting young talents in world football, and he both scored and assisted in the same Premier League match for the first time.

At 18 years and 276 days, he is the youngest player to do so since Evan Ferguson (18y 76d) versus Everton in January 2023, while he is the youngest Chelsea player to do so since Neil Shipperley (18y 164d) against Wimbledon in April 1993.

His assist came for Brazilian compatriot Joao Pedro, who has both scored more goals (12) and been involved in more goals (16) than any other player across all competitions for Chelsea since making his Blues debut in July 2025.

It was a miserable day for Palace, who have conceded a penalty, received a red card and conceded three-plus goals all in the same Premier League game for the first time ever.

Meanwhile, Wharton received a first career red card in what was his 125th senior appearance (74 for Palace, 51 for Blackburn Rovers).

Match Events

6' Mateta takes a shot, but the ball is cleared in time

8' Badiashile makes a mistake, and Mateta's shot is saved by Sanchez.

14' Enzo's shot over the bar

27' Estevao takes a sharp angle shot, but the ball is blocked by a defender

29' Sarr's shot wide out!

34' GOAL! Estêvão thump it past the keeper! Crystal Palace 0-1 Chelsea

43' Estevao with another breakaway, carries the ball all the way to the Place box

55' Sanchez almost forgot where the box was and carried the ball out of the box

57' Wonderful curler that is married by GK with a diving save

64' Penalty Goal! Enzo stands on the pen! Crystal Palace 0-3 Chelsea

72' Second Yellow Card! Adam Wharton sent off

81' Reece James is subbed for Hato

88' GOAL! Palace pull one back! Crystal Palace 1-3 Chelsea (Chris Richards)

Line-ups

Crystal Palace XI: Lerma, Dean Henderson, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Sarr, Daniel Muñoz, Maxence Lacroix, Chris Richards, Brennan Johnson, Tyrick Mitchell, Adam Wharton, Jaydee Canvot

Subs: Walter Benítez, Hughes, Borna Sosa, Yeremy, Danny Imray, Chadi Riad, Justin Devenny, Kaden Rodney, Christantus Uche

Chelsea XI: Cucurella, Trevoh Chalobah, Reece James, Robert Sánchez, Pedro Neto, Badiashile, João Pedro, Enzo, Caicedo, Andrey Santos, Estêvão

Subs: Wesley Fofana, Gusto, Garnacho, Liam Delap, Gittens, Teddy Sharman-Lowe, Jorrel Hato, Josh Acheampong, Guiu