Chelsea late show deepens Palace crisis, Juve stunned by Udinese

<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2024-02-13/Chelsea-late-show-deepens-Palace-crisis-Juve-stunned-by-Udinese-1r9JxmeuZl6/img/ec3443a9ef4c464eb38859b3a619f7e2/ec3443a9ef4c464eb38859b3a619f7e2.jpeg' alt='Conor Gallagher (R) of Chelsea celebrates with spectators after scoring a goal against Crystal Palace during their Premier League match at Selhurst Park in London, England, February 12, 2024. /CFP'

Conor Gallagher struck twice to condemn his former club Crystal Palace to a damaging 3-1 defeat on Monday and keep Chelsea in the hunt for European football next season.

The injury-ravaged Eagles were on course for a huge win in their battle to remain in the Premier League when Jefferson Lerma’s long-range strike opened the scoring.

But Palace have won just three times in 19 games and were undone late on after Gallagher equalized within two minutes of the second half.

Gallagher fired home his second of the night and Enzo Fernandez added the third in stoppage time to lift Chelsea up to 10th and within two points of seventh.

Defeat leaves Palace still just five points above the relegation zone in 15th.

“It was extremely cruel but the game is about goals and unfortunately we made mistakes which led to goals,” said Palace boss Roy Hodgson.

“We started really flat, we didn’t show enough intensity. It was a really tough first 45 minutes,” said Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino.

“Second half we started really well, scored the 1-1 and it allowed us to manage the game,” he added.

<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2024-02-13/Chelsea-late-show-deepens-Palace-crisis-Juve-stunned-by-Udinese-1r9JxmeuZl6/img/e398e9d518f647ee9ab8a1b96a6d1819/e398e9d518f647ee9ab8a1b96a6d1819.jpeg' alt='Udinese forward Lautero Giannetti (C in red) scores a goal against Juventus during their Serie A match at the Allianz Stadium in Turin, Italy, February 12, 2024. /CFP'

Juventus fell to a shock 1-0 home defeat to Udinese on Monday.

Juve’s title hopes took a hit at the Allianz Stadium in Turin after Lautaro Giannetti poked home the only goal of the game in the 25th minute.

Argentine defender Giannetti’s strike was his first since signing for Udinese last month and gave his team just their third league win of the season.

Gabriele Cioffi’s Udinese are three points above the relegation zone after consigning disappointing Juve to their second straight defeat after last weekend’s narrow loss at Inter.

“Unfortunately, it’s not a great period for us right now,” said Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri.

“We need to get our focus back because we still need to get a lot more points if we’re going to qualify for the Champions League.”

(With input from AFP)