Chelsea secured a comfortable 3-1 Premier League victory over 10-man Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Sunday afternoon.
Philippe Mateta could’ve given the host an early lead in the seventh minute after Benoit Badiashile lost possession in the final third and Mateta picked up the pieces, but his drilled shot was saved by the legs of Robert Sanchez.
At the other end, Enzo Fernandez almost broke the deadlock after the ball dropped to him from a corner, but his effort from 10 yards out flew wide.
Minutes later, Moises Caicedo tried his luck from the edge of the area, but he sliced his effort wide with the outside of his boot.
At the half-hour mark, Tyrick Mitchell fired in an inviting cross for Mateta to meet, but the Frenchman couldn’t guide his header goalwards, and the chance went begging.
In the 34th minute, Estevao Willian gave Chelsea the lead after he latched onto a loose back pass from his own half, and the teenager made his way into the area and finished brilliantly beyond Dean Henderson.
Palace searched for the equaliser but created nothing of significance, and the Blues went into the break with the lead.
Five minutes after the restart, João Pedro doubled the visitors’ advantage after Estevao found him with a lovely ball over the top, and the Brazilian maintained his cool and slotted home through Henderson’s legs from the right edge of the six-yard box.
Moments later, Estevao tried his luck from the edge of the area, but his curling effort was parried away by Henderson, denying the teenager a second of the afternoon.
Just before the hour mark, Chelsea appealed for a penalty after João Pedro’s shot struck the arm of Canvot, and after a VAR review, referee Darren England awarded a penalty.
Fernandez stepped up to take the spot-kick, and he converted into the bottom corner beyond a rooted Henderson.
In the 72nd minute, the Eagles’ day went from bad to worse as Adam Wharton was second off after he received a second yellow card for a challenge on Caicedo.
Minutes later, Brennan Johnson almost pulled one back for the host, but his effort from close range was deflected behind for a corner.
The Eagles continued to search for a way back, but Yeremy Pino fired his effort from range well over the bar before Sanchez denied Lacroix a goal from a tight angle.
However, Palace pulled one back for the hosts after Sanchez’s save from Jefferson Lerma’s header fell to Chris Richards, who headed home to reduce the deficit.
The Blues held on to secure all three points, which moves them to fourth place in the Premier League standings and their first consecutive PL wins since November.