Cole Palmer made Premier League history with a perfect penalty performance, scoring twice to lead Chelsea to a thrilling 4-3 comeback victory over Tottenham Hotspur in a chaotic London derby.
The match began disastrously for Chelsea, who found themselves two goals behind within the first 11 minutes at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Defensive errors allowed Spurs to take an early advantage, but an injury to Cristian Romero soon after shifted the momentum in Chelsea’s favor.
Jadon Sancho pulled one back for Chelsea with a brilliant strike just before halftime, signaling the start of their revival. Despite sustained pressure, Chelsea went into the break still trailing 2-1.
The second half saw Chelsea dominate, with Palmer taking center stage. A reckless foul by Yves Bissouma on Moises Caicedo awarded Chelsea their first penalty of the night, and Palmer calmly converted, leveling the score.
Enzo Fernandez then gave Chelsea the lead with a stunning volley, completing the comeback. But Palmer wasn’t finished.
In the dying minutes, a careless challenge by Pape Sarr on Palmer resulted in a second penalty, which the 22-year-old coolly converted with a cheeky Panenka, sending goalkeeper Fraser Forster the wrong way. Although Son Heung-min scored a late goal for Spurs, Palmer’s second penalty sealed the victory for Chelsea.
Palmer Breaks Yaya Toure’s Record
Palmer’s two successful penalties not only secured the win but also earned him a place in Premier League history. The former Manchester City player has now converted his first 12 penalties in the league without missing, surpassing the previous record of 11 set by Yaya Toure.
Toure’s streak ended with a miss on his 12th attempt, but Palmer’s flawless record has established him as the Premier League’s new penalty king.
This win moves Chelsea within four points of league leaders Liverpool, taking advantage of dropped points by title contenders Arsenal and Manchester City over the weekend.
What’s Next for Chelsea?
Chelsea now turns their attention to the UEFA Conference League, where they will face Astana on Thursday night. The Blues will then play Brentford in a West London derby next Sunday, looking to continue their momentum in the Premier League.
Palmer’s historic performance is sure to be remembered as a defining moment in Chelsea’s season, cementing their status as serious title contenders.
