By OUR MAN AT SELHURST PARK
LONDON is Blue—and it has a distinct South American flavor. Chelsea’s teenage sensation Estevao Willian and Brazilian hitman Joao Pedro turned Selhurst Park into their own personal dance floor yesterday, dismantling a dismal Crystal Palace 3-1 to send the Blues soaring into the Champions League places.
While the rain lashed down in South London, Chelsea’s “Samba Boys” brought the heat.
Estevao—the 18-year-old wonderkid who looks more like a seasoned pro with every passing week—was the architect of the Eagles’ destruction.
GIFT-WRAPPED OPENER
The breakthrough came in the 34th minute when Palace youngster Jaydee Canvot committed a defensive sin, undercooking a back-pass that Estevao sniffed out like a predator. The Brazilian didn’t need a second invitation, racing from the halfway line and holding off Tyrick Mitchell before coolly slotting past a helpless Dean Henderson.
Palace, who haven’t won a league game since the Christmas decorations were still up, looked like a side lacking any belief. Their afternoon went from bad to worse just five minutes after the break.
Estevao was at it again, playing a gorgeous “give-and-go” with Joao Pedro.
The former Brighton man, who has become the focal point of Liam Rosenior’s new-look Chelsea, danced inside Adam Wharton and smashed a rocket into the roof of the net.
STAT ATTACK: Joao Pedro has now been involved in 16 goals for Chelsea since his summer arrival—more than any other Blues player.
WHARTON’S WOE
Any hope of a Palace comeback vanished when Enzo Fernandez stepped up to the spot.
After a lengthy VAR check confirmed Canvot had handled a goal-bound shot from Pedro, the Argentine World Cup winner sent Henderson the wrong way with ice-cold precision.
The Selhurst faithful began heading for the exits early, and they missed Adam Wharton seeing red.
The Palace midfielder, usually so composed, lost his head with two reckless challenges on Moises Caicedo in five minutes, earning an early bath.
Chris Richards did nod home a late consolation for the hosts, but it was far too little, far too late. Under Liam Rosenior, Chelsea look like a team transformed—confident, clinical, and clinical.
For Oliver Glasner and his Eagles, the relegation trapdoor is starting to creak open.
