Chelsea had even placed a strong emphasis on defense.
But now, it seemed that the carefully planned defensive setup had completely fallen apart.
The game continued!!
As time went on, Chelsea's players did not aggressively push for another goal. Instead, they focused primarily on defense.
This was a deliberate tactical decision by Coach Conte.
Although Crystal Palace was not considered a top-tier team, Chelsea's recent fixture congestion had taken a toll on the players' fitness.
If they continued to attack relentlessly after taking the lead—
Nine times out of ten,
It would only further drain their stamina!
Thus, the best course of action was to sit back and defend.
When Hodgson noticed Chelsea dropping back into a deep defensive shape, he wasted no time in giving his instructions.
He decisively ordered his players to attack Chelsea's goal, especially from the flanks!
For Hodgson—
As long as Crystal Palace could equalize quickly, they would still have a great chance in this match.
But if they failed to score—
Then naturally,
They would undoubtedly lose.
So—
Their top priority was clear: attack at all costs!
"Push forward!! Press them high!! Don't give them any space!!"
Hodgson roared from the sidelines, urging his players to apply pressure and create goal-scoring chances.
But unfortunately—
His players couldn't execute the plan.
Throughout the remainder of the first half, Crystal Palace looked dangerous at times, but in reality, they failed to create any real threats on goal.
Most of the time—
They were just passing the ball around without any real penetration.
Soon,
Ten minutes had passed since the game resumed.
Chelsea's defense remained rock solid, refusing to give their opponents any chances.
As time ticked away, Crystal Palace was running out of opportunities.
Everyone watching could see it clearly—
Given the way Crystal Palace was playing, it was almost impossible for them to break down a dominant Chelsea side.
At a crucial moment—
A star player needed to step up.
It didn't take long.
Benteke, the team's leading striker, finally made his move.
As a traditional target man, Benteke usually operated inside the penalty area.
However, this time, he chose to position himself outside the box.
His goal was simple—
To get more touches on the ball.
After all, Chelsea's penalty area was too crowded with defenders.
No matter how hard Benteke tried, he had no chance of winning the ball with Christensen and Gary Cahill constantly marking him!
At this critical moment—
Benteke had no choice but to drop deeper to receive the ball.
Midfielder Milivojević spotted Benteke at the edge of the penalty area.
Without any hesitation, he immediately delivered a pass towards him.
Benteke controlled the ball smoothly just outside the box.
And without a moment's delay—
He showcased his talent.
Driving forward, he forced his way into Chelsea's penalty area.
At the same time, he kept his eyes on his teammates, ready to pass if needed.
But—
Chelsea's defense was packed with too many bodies.
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