Kurt Zouma may have single handedly given Chelsea a place in the Champions League next season after a brilliant tackle vs Crystal Palace.
Chelsea emerged from the game 3-2 winners and moved up to third place, but it could have gone very differently.
Christian Benteke thought he'd found himself one on one with Kepa Arrizabalaga in the dying embers of the game before Zouma came flying in with a crunching challenge.
WHAT. A. TACKLE. 😳💥 @KurtZouma pic.twitter.com/PoOJqYwiIE
— COPA90 (@Copa90) July 7, 2020
The Frenchman displayed incredible effort to cover centre-back partner Andreas Christensen and ensure his side kept all three points.
Chelsea fans praised the 25-year-old and his remarkable attitude following the game.
Nobody I'd rather have last man..simply immense. Imagine selling, couldn't be me 👀😂
— MAH (@matissearmani) July 7, 2020
Give him a proper partner and we’ll break that Terry - Carvalho defensive record next season
— 🇬🇭علي (@TheBeardedRauI) July 7, 2020
Best CB in the club without a doubt.
— 🎩 (@CFCLamps_) July 7, 2020
This tackle totally saved our lives🥶💙
— Manuel (@ManuelBlue) July 7, 2020
I think this has to be ‘tackle of the season’ Benteke was opening up his body to place it on the far side of the post and in a duel with Kepa I would say benteke would hit the net even with his eyes closed and one hand behind the back and one feet in a cast.
— Chelsea FC (💙 at 🏜) ⏱ (@fringeworx) July 7, 2020
Frank Lampard's side opened the scoring after six minutes through Olivier Giroud's smart finish.
They then doubled their lead after Christian Pulisic's near post drive stunned Vicente Guaita in the Palace goal.
Less than ten minutes however, Wilfried Zaha topped that with his 30-yard screamer getting 'The Eagles' right back in it.
WHAT A HIT! 🎯
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) July 7, 2020
Wilfried Zaha picks up the ball in Chelsea's half before letting rip a fierce strike past Kepa. Palace are back in it!
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Roy Hodgson's side dominated early parts of the second half but a swift Chelsea counter attack saw Tammy Abraham restore their two goal cushion.
'The Blues' weren't home and dry though as Benteke netted immediately after the restart to give Palace hope.
Chelsea survived a late scare when Scott Dann's header was tipped onto the past by Arrizabalaga in injury time.
Lampard spoke to the media following last night's game and admitted his side rode their luck at times.
"We should have had the game under much more control at that point," the former England man confessed per Daily Mail.
"At 2-0 we should have carried on and controlled the game better and at 3-2 we had a lot of chances, good chances, to finish it off.
"There was slight wrong decisions made on the final pass or shot and then it invites pressure.
"Kepa made a great save and Kurt made a great tackle. In those last moments it was nerve-wracking for us."
Chelsea are now five points ahead of fifth place Manchester United, and they have Zouma to thank for that.
source https://www.sportbible.com/football/football-news-take-a-bow-reactions-skills-chelseas-kurt-zouma-pulled-off-tackle-of-the-season-vs-crystal-palace-20200708
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