Chelsea 4–1 Crystal Palace: Relentless Blues Dominate at Drogba Arena
On a wet afternoon in West London, Chelsea extended their perfect start to the Premier League season with a commanding 4–1 win over Crystal Palace. Facundo Quiroga, named Player of the Match, led by example from the back, scoring a first-half goal and anchoring a rock-solid defensive unit.
The floodgates opened after an unfortunate own goal from Palace’s Vegard Frantzen in the 36th minute. Two minutes later, Quiroga volleyed in from close range following a defensive mix-up by Eric Bensafir. Just before the break, Jairzinho added a third with a well-placed finish that clipped the inside of the post. Mario Cardozo capped off the scoring in the 83rd minute, hammering home Chelsea’s fourth.
Crystal Palace’s Zdeněk Březina pulled one back late, but it was little consolation for a side outclassed in every department. The VAR system again played a role, overruling a disallowed goal in Chelsea’s favour.
Post-match, Palace boss Dušan Vlahović avoided blaming officials, instead choosing to focus on improving his squad. Meanwhile, Southampton manager Domenico Tedesco was spotted in the stands, reportedly eyeing Chelsea’s rising Israeli striker Shon Mishpati.
Premier League Round-Up: Chelsea Lead, Others Jostle
With three wins from three, Chelsea sit alone at the summit of the Premier League table. Their nine goals scored and only two conceded highlight a team clicking early in the campaign.
- Tottenham remain hot on Chelsea’s heels, also unbeaten, while Arsenal and Fulham round out the top four.
- Man UFC remain undefeated but have drawn twice, while Man City are struggling in 13th with only one point so far.
- Crystal Palace, Burnley, Southampton, and Reading languish at the bottom of the table, all still searching for their first win.
Mario Cardozo: From QPR Loanee to Chelsea Star
Perhaps the biggest story within Chelsea’s early season dominance is the emergence of 23-year-old Argentine midfielder Mario Cardozo. Once a promising youth at Racing Club, Cardozo bounced around on loan with stops at Hull, Ipswich, Huddersfield, Wolfsburg, and QPR.
Cardozo’s rise under Calin Dimario has been meteoric. After impressing in the UEFA Super Cup win over Roma, where he scored twice, Cardozo has added another goal and assist in the Premier League. His technical finesse and vision have seen him effectively slot into Chelsea’s attacking midfield role—once the domain of club legend Pelé.
With a passing completion rate over 80%, sharp positioning, and composure in front of goal, Cardozo looks like more than just a squad player—he’s quickly becoming a vital cog in Chelsea’s title ambitions.
Looking Ahead
Chelsea will travel to face struggling Rotherham in their next league fixture, and with momentum on their side, the Blues look poised to continue their dominance. The only concern is the recent ankle injury to winger Kieran O’Sullivan, who could be sidelined for up to five weeks.
Still, with Cardozo’s rise and the squad’s all-round depth, Chelsea’s early title charge shows no signs of slowing.