Saturday, December 14, 2013

Minute-by-Minute Review: Chelsea 2 - 1 Palace

Pre-match- The "Special One" escorts Pulis through the tunnel. Looking chummy together.

2'- Palace with a good possession early. Chelsea hasn't won it back yet.
3'- Jerome intercepts, nutmegs Luiz, but can't get through Terry on a nice move.
7'- Palace support wonderful as always. To the Chelsea fans: "Is this a library?"
9'- Quick Chelsea free kick challenged well by Dikgacoi for a corner.
11'- Chelsea's giving away the ball a handful of times early on.
15'- Ramires' half volley held easily by Speroni.
16'- Willian's shot deflected off the post by Speroni, rebounds back to Torres, who slots it in.
21'- Ivanovic sprays one just wide left across the face of goal.
26'- O'Keefe in for Dikgacoi, who's picked up a knock.
27'- Essien shoots wide left from 25 yards out.
28'- Jerome from far out, routine save by Cech.
29'- Ward sets up Chamakh, who slots home the one-timer from inside the box! Something from nothing!
(Paul Gilham)
 
35'- Ramires blasts it into the top left corner from the edge of the arc.
41'- Willian's shot deflected into the hands of Speroni after Mariappa lost possession near the endline.
43'- Chamakh gets a yellow after fouling Essien.
45'- Two added minutes.

49'- Mata's shot blocked and pinballs to Speroni. Mata's second try moments later...smashes it over.
50'- Chelsea running all over the defense now.
51'- Bolasie replaces Bannan. Jerome picks up an interception, but fires high.
54'- Puncheon turns inside the box, and forces a save out of Cech.
58'- Essien yellow. Puncheon's free kick curled in, headed down by Delaney, but into the arms of Cech.
62'- Oscar in for Mata.
63'- Puncheon crosses to Bolasie. Free headed over and wide of goal.
69'- Ivanovic yellow card.
70'- Puncheon with another curled free kick. Delaney heads it straight over.
75'- Essien shoots, blocked to Ba, who is saved well at close range by Speroni. However, the flag was already up for offside.
77'- O'Keefe in close after Jerome's pass. The fingers of Cech along with a Terry clear off the line keep out a close shot. Resulting scramble can't be slotted home.
78'- Delaney with another header off a corner, but misses on the wrong side of the near post.
82'- Schurrle replaces Willian.
84'- Schurrle over the bar. Ba replaces Torres.
86'- Ramires fluffs it after a bad giveaway by Palace. Jules did well to scramble on it.
88'- Gayle in for Chamakh. Speroni gets two unbelievable saves on Schurrle and Ba, from point-blank range. Standing on his head late.
90'- Jerome flicks one across the face after Delaney worked hard to keep it. Four minutes to go.
90'+2- Puncheon's high cross is straight down to Cech.

FINAL: CHELSEA 2 - 1 PALACE

My "Man of the Match":

Slight edge to Chamakh for the goal and the way he's improved so well over the last three games. Honorable mentions to Jules for keeping us in it during the dying minutes, and to Delaney for the near misses he had up the pitch.

Nearly had a point out of this one. Terrific effort. Newcastle comes to Selhurst on Saturday.

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