Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante is enjoying his most prolific season in a blue shirt and scored a fine winner against Crystal Palace.
2018/2019 Premier League
0-1
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