Chelsea frustrated as Palace denied goal in goalless Stamford Bridge clash

Chelsea were held to a scrappy 0-0 draw by Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, surviving an early scare when Eberechi Eze’s strike was controversially chalked off.

Fresh from winning the Club World Cup last month, Chelsea struggled to impose themselves against the FA Cup holders in the sweltering southwest London sunshine.

Palace thought they had broken the deadlock in the 13th minute, but referee Darren England overturned the goal after a pitchside review. He ruled that captain Marc Guehi, who shoved Moises Caicedo aside, was standing too close to Chelsea’s defensive wall as Eze lined up his free kick on the edge of the box.

The Blues, who finished fourth in the Premier League last season and lifted the Conference League trophy, handed starts to several youthful arrivals including Joao Pedro and Jamie Gittens.

But it was 18-year-old Brazilian substitute Estevao who caught the eye with a lively cameo on the right flank.