Thursday, 12 October 2017

The Classic Match: Crystal Palace 0-3 Chelsea, 13/09/1997

Frank Leboeuf celebrates Chelsea's second goal

As Chelsea prepare to visit Crystal Palace, time for another trip down memory lane. This time, we go back 20 years to 1997.

Chelsea had made a good start to the season despite an opening day loss to Coventry City, newly promoted Crystal Palace were predictably struggling.

Palace were sharing Selhurst Park with Wimbledon at the time and Chelsea's first goal came right out of their playbook. French defender Frank Leboeuf played the long ball forward and Mark Hughes volleyed the ball on the turn for a stunning opener.

A few minutes later and Dan Petrescu was tripped inside the penalty area and Leboeuf stepped up to double Chelsea's lead.

Palace kept the Blues from scoring again until the last minute, when Graeme Le Saux (recently re-signed from Blackburn Rovers) burst through the Eagles defence and rifled an effort into the top corner. It was Le Saux's first goal of his second spell at Chelsea.

Poor Palace were relegated at the seasons end, they will be desperate to avoid a repeat.


No comments:

Post a Comment