Richards Scores on His 100th Palace Appearance

Defender Nodded Home a Consolation Goal in Defeat to Chelsea

Chris Richards provided a bright moment in an otherwise disappointing afternoon for Crystal Palace, scoring a late consolation goal in their 3-1 defeat to Chelsea at Selhurst Park on Sunday. The American center-back's 88th-minute header marked a special milestone, coming in his 100th club appearance for the Eagles.

Despite Chelsea dominating the match and building a commanding 3-0 lead through goals from Estevão, João Pedro, and Enzo Fernández's penalty, Richards refused to give up. His close-range header came moments after goalkeeper Robert Sánchez had made a terrific save to deny Jefferson Lerma, showing Palace's determination to fight until the final whistle.

The 25-year-old defender's goal demonstrated excellent positioning in the opposition's penalty area. Richards found himself in attacking positions three times during the match, eventually converting his only shot of the game with precision.

Beyond his attacking contribution, Richards fulfilled his defensive duties admirably, completing the full 90 minutes and recording 51 accurate passes from 56 attempts—a 91% success rate. He made two tackles, two clearances, and six recoveries while winning three of his four ground duels. His composure on the ball was evident as he completed his only dribble attempt and wasn't dispossessed throughout the contest.

However, Richards' goal proved to be merely a footnote in a miserable day for Palace, who had Adam Wharton sent off for a second yellow card following a late tackle on Moisés Caicedo. The defeat extended the FA Cup winners' winless streak to 11 matches across all competitions, leaving them just eight points above the relegation zone and facing mounting pressure ahead of difficult fixtures against Nottingham Forest and rivals Brighton.

For Richards, though, reaching his century of appearances with a goal provided a personal highlight amid the team's struggles.