Ebere Eze has revealed how Crystal Palace were able to overcome difficult conditions at Stamford Bridge to earn a hard-fought draw, Soccernet.football reports.
Crystal Palace earned their first Premier League point of the season in a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, with Eze’s brilliant second-half goal proving decisive.
The England international’s stunning 53rd-minute curler capped a much-improved performance from the Eagles, who battled difficult conditions to secure a deserved draw at a venue that has traditionally posed challenges for them.
Chelsea, fresh off a narrow escape in their Conference League qualifier against Servette, dominated the early stages of the match.
The hosts took the lead through Nicolas Jackson’s simple finish from a Cole Palmer pass midway through the first half. It looked like the Blues were on course for back-to-back league victories under Enzo Maresca as they controlled much of the play.
However, Palace, managed by Oliver Glasner, had other ideas.
Against the run of play, Eze delivered a moment of magic, curling the ball delicately past Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez to level the score early in the second half. His goal shifted the momentum, as Palace began to threaten Chelsea’s defence, coming close to taking the lead on several occasions.
Reflecting on the match, Eze said, “I think we did well – we put in a shift. We knew it was going to be difficult because they’re a good team – they’ve got loads of talent in the team – but we knew what we needed to do. Getting a point, we deserved it.”
The match, played in stifling heat, was disrupted by several injuries, adding to the challenge for both teams.
Eze acknowledged the tough conditions, saying, “Yeah, it was bad! It’s difficult to play in heat like that, but it’s same for us, same for them, so we know we’ve just got to keep going, work hard, and we did what we needed to do, which was the most important thing.”
Eze’s goal, a result of his keen eye for goal, was the highlight of the match. Modestly, he reflected, “I think whenever I get the ball in that type of area I’m looking for how I can get the ball in the back of the net, whether it be an assist or shooting myself – and today it worked.”
Despite Chelsea’s late efforts, including a stoppage-time attempt by Jackson that was saved by Dean Henderson, Palace held on to claim a valuable point, leaving Maresca’s side frustrated as time ran out.