Hakim Ziyech volleyed in an 89th–minute winner as Chelsea beat Crystal Palace 1–0 on Saturday on its return to Premier League action after triumphing at the Club World Cup.
The Morocco winger was lurking at the far post to meet Marcos Alonso’s cross with a cushioned volley into the net, allowing Chelsea to consolidate third place and move seven points clear of fourth–place Manchester United.
VAR had previously denied Ziyech a second–half goal after striker Romelu Lukaku, who only had seven touches at Selhurst Park, was deemed to be offside.
Chelsea has had a week off since becoming club world champions in Abu Dhabi and this was its first league match since Jan. 23.
The late withdrawals of Cesar Azpilicueta and Callum Hudson–Odoi weakened the visitors in south London but Palace had problems of its own, with Joel Ward and Chelsea loanee Conor Gallagher unavailable.
It resulted in Palace coach Patrick Vieira switching formation to a 4–2–3–1, with Michael Olise recalled, and he nearly opened the scoring after seven minutes.
Wilfried Zaha, deployed down the middle, found Olise on the right but after he worked a bit of space up against Antonio Rudiger, he could only drag his effort wide. (AP)
