FULL-TIME: Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace.
Palace battled hard to earn a point at Stamford Bridge in their Premier League opener, with Eberechi Eze’s first-half free-kick dramatically ruled out by VAR. Both sides created chances, but neither could find the breakthrough in a tense, evenly contested London derby.
Match Result
Chelsea were held to a 0-0 draw by Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge in a tightly fought London derby. Despite dominating possession, the Blues were unable to break down a disciplined Palace defense.(The Guardian)
Key Moment: Eze’s Disallowed Free-Kick
Crystal Palace thought they had taken the lead through Eberechi Eze’s stunning free-kick, which beat Chelsea keeper Robert Sánchez. However, VAR intervened. The goal was ruled out because Marc Guehi was positioned less than one meter from Chelsea’s wall at the moment the kick was struck—breaching Law 13.(Talksport, The Guardian) This marked the first instance this season where a referee publicly explained a VAR decision during the match.(Talksport)
Behind the Scenes: Ticketing Chaos
Ahead of kickoff, Chelsea faced logistical headaches with their new digital ticketing system, leaving thousands of fans unable to access the stadium. The club issued an apology, confirming all supporters were eventually admitted before kickoff.(Talksport)
The Bigger Picture
| Team | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Chelsea | Strong ball control, but lacked creativity and a cutting edge in attack. |
| Crystal Palace | Showed defensive resilience and posed threats on the counter-attack. |
The disallowed goal remains the defining moment of the match—another flashpoint in the ongoing debate over VAR’s role in the Premier League.
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