Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante is enjoying his most prolific season in a blue shirt and scored a fine winner against Crystal Palace.
Match Report
The best attempt of the first half came from Willian, whose wickedly curling free-kick from 25 yards was saved by Guaita at full stretch just moments before the goalkeeper denied the Brazilian again when he tried a low drive.
David Luiz provided a rare assist from open play to allow Kante an opportunity that he pounced upon before scoring a goal that trebles his previous best tally in a Premier League season.
Guaita made another save from Willian, denying the winger when Hazard played him in for a shot, before another unfortunate moment for Giroud, who twisted his ankle in the process of scoring another goal that was ruled out by the assistant referee's flag.
Player Ratings
Match Events
17' CHANCE! Kante's long shot wide out
Giroud shows exactly why he has been given the nod through the middle as he brings down the ball and lays it off for Kante, who sends a shot flying wide of the opposition target. The France midfielder is more of an attacking threat this season, but he still needs to work on his shooting.
36' PITY! Barkley's shot hits the post again
Kouyate clips the heels of Hazard on the edge of the 'D'. Alonso, Hazard and Willian stand over the free-kick, and it is the latter who wins the right to take it. Willian just about gets the ball over the wall and clips the outside of the post.
51'GOAL! Crystal Palace 0-1 Chelsea (Kante)
Kante, who can no longer be described as an unlikely goalscorer, chests down David Luiz's deep pass and tucks the ball past Guaita. Van Aanholt may have blocked Guaita's vision, as the goalkeeper got a touch to the ball but could not stop it from trickling over the line.
67' CHANCE! Willian's shot saved
Hazard gets on the end of Giroud's knockdown and backheels the ball into the path of Willian, who tests Guaita with a decent attempt down low. That is the closest either side has come to a goal since Kante's breakthrough moment.
Line-ups
Crystal Palace XI: Sakho, Tomkins, McArthur, C. Kouyaté, Vicente Guaita, Townsend, Van Aanholt, L. Milivojević, W.Zaha, Schlupp, Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Subs: W. Hennessey, Dann, Puncheon, J.Ward, Wickham, Ayew, Meyer
Chelsea XI: Willian, D.Luiz, Azpilicueta, E. Hazard, O. Giroud, M.Alonso, Barkley, Jorginho, A. Rüdiger, Kepa, N. Kanté
Subs: W. Caballero, Morata, M. Kovačić, Emerson, Zappacosta, A. Christensen, Ampadu
Dohtmhan
340
KANTE AT THE MOMENT
lukzlat910
302
The boy who never stops smiling
RealMd13
278
Ongolo kante 🇫🇷 is a beast and I now believe that 70% of the earth is covered by Kante and 30% by water jk 😂😂 but Kante he is a humble player who lets his football do the talking and when he has done a wonderful job he never want to be take the credits and tonight he got Chelsea 3 important points and for his attitude and calmness GOD as helped him achieve so much throughout his career from winning the EPL title to winning the FIFA world cup all I have to say is I respect and love players like kante who do their talking on the pitch #blues🔵
luvincr7
246
n golo kante la la la , n golo kante la la la, he is too short, he is so sweet, he stop leo messi , n golo kante la la la, in love with this beautiful song
Nesaiknruy_Legend
220
Remember when people said put him back in his role or Kante can't attack. He's always making these runs If you watch him properly but he's just not passed to at times since our teams player still have this side and backward passing ideology. He made at least 2 threatening runs today, 1 of which he converted. Anyway what I'm starting to wonder is that how 2 players constantly keep bailing us out. It's either Hazard or Kante who makes the difference when we win. Willian was painful to watch. Luiz was amazing to watch, MOTM for me and one of the ones I'd keep if we can get a full back who can defend next to him. Alonso doing Alonso things so 1 or 2 good attacks but either losing the ball or getting turned by whoever drives forward on the left (their right). Overall decent game but even though we won, we looked sloppy. This was the kind of game we could have killed off by 3 goals. A striker coming in is unavoidable and unless that happens, we may even exit the top 4 second half of the season. Now forget title race, a striker would at least guarantee us top 4. Maybe bring back Michy (as Chelsea can create way better than Valencia) or buy/take on loan someone who can finish their chances... Hazard is getting sloppy recently in terms of dribbling and taking on players, idk if it's the false 9 effect or his previous injuries cos he's been like this since Ashley Young got away with fouling him in the United game. Hasn't looked the same since even though he has been great as a false 9... Overall a difficult win but one that we definitely needed to win no question.....
Mohammadshakeel
201
Chelsea played really well especially kante for his goal and the through ball by luiz was fantastic, as chelsea are now 4 points ahead arsenal.
Realmrbreezy
200
Only Kante, Luiz, Rudigar, Azpilicueta, Hazard, Kovacic Kepa is improving to Sarri ball.. The other players are just repeating the same thing every week.. Thumbs up for the man of the match.. KANTE DA GENERAL
EpaphrasDaniel
168
Kante and luiz should swap roles with Willian and Giroud. Can't help feeling that Chelsea needed a bit of luck to get away with a win today.
Rohingya94
157
Giroud exchange offside with Morata ?😂 Giroud scored two offside goals in a match with CP. 😂 Is he really great??
robjet07
89
Kante has been Chelsea's best signing since Hazard...
LIVING-TRIBUNAL
70
Giroud and Morata are no better than two pieces of cigarettes, kante is a better stiker than they will ever be. .😤😤😤
Garygroad
61
very little that the cutest Kante can't do
luudikprt
46
i don't see the quality in jorginho that Makes him the master of passing he change position with kante because the coach think he's fast and read the game to create chances to the final third or give a final pass but he is way from that...a master of passing and a CM who can't even shot on target,make assist and even create chances and always going back with the ball...how many final pass was successful by him to the final man in the box fabregas is way better than him interms of passing and assist...how many assist has he make this season as a CM,the shot he wasted makes me remember the likes of ESSEIN,LAMPARD and BALLACK with them that ball would have enter net or even attempt on goal
Braddy
40
He is the cutest 😂? He is talent 💯