Chelsea Edges Leicester Despite Palmer’s Penalty Miss

Chelsea’s battle for a top-four finish gained momentum with a hard-fought victory over Leicester – but not before a Stamford Bridge shocker saw Cole Palmer miss a penalty.

March 9, 2025
6:21 pm

Chelsea fought hard against a tough Leicester City at Stamford Bridge, bouncing back from Cole Palmer’s first-ever penalty miss to snag a 1-0 win in an exciting Premier League match.

Looking for their fourth straight home win, the Blues started strong, with Palmer leading the charge. He had a penalty shout turned down and tested Mads Hermansen with two shots early on. Chelsea’s best chances came down the right side, and when Jadon Sancho was brought down in the box by Victor Kristiansen, they had a golden chance to score. Palmer, who had never missed a penalty in the Premier League, stepped up – but this time, he couldn’t convert. Hermansen guessed right and saved the shot, ending Palmer’s perfect penalty streak.

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Even though Chelsea controlled the game under Enzo Maresca’s style, they almost gave Leicester a surprise goal in a chaotic moment. Robert Sánchez, back in the starting lineup, misjudged a cross from James Justin, leading to a mix-up where Tosin Adarabioyo accidentally headed the ball against his own crossbar. It was a rare attack from Leicester, who mostly spent the first half defending, with Christopher Nkunku shooting wide just before halftime.

Leicester, needing points to avoid relegation, came out strong after the break, with Jamie Vardy forcing Sánchez to make a save from a tight angle. But Chelsea quickly took charge again, and their hard work paid off when Marc Cucurella fired a precise low shot from outside the box, breaking the deadlock. With Leicester struggling to respond, Chelsea looked more likely to score again as time ran out.

Late pressure from Leicester didn’t lead to anything, keeping Chelsea’s slim lead safe. This loss adds to Leicester’s troubles, leaving them six points from safety after five straight league defeats without scoring. Meanwhile, the Blues are solidifying their spot in the top four, moving two points ahead of Manchester City as they aim for a return to the Champions League.