Crystal Palace Women were beaten 3-1 by Chelsea at the 360 Engage Stadium after Molly Bartrip’s first-half goal was overturned by a second-half comeback from the visitors.
Chelsea controlled much of the opening period and tested Palace goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin, while Allyson Swaby also cleared a header from Lucy Bronze off the line. Peyraud-Magnin produced a double save to deny Kyra Cooney-Cross and Melvine Malard, with another effort from Sjoeke Nüsken later kept out.
Palace made Chelsea pay for those missed opportunities in the 20th minute. Bartrip bundled the ball home from a corner to put the hosts in front, giving Palace their first goal against Chelsea in eight meetings.
The visitors introduced Erin Cuthbert and Sandy Baltimore at half-time, and Malard soon made the breakthrough for Chelsea. After failing to convert an earlier opening, the former Manchester United forward recovered in spectacular fashion, sending a long-range strike beyond Peyraud-Magnin to level the contest.
Malard completed the turnaround in the 75th minute, heading in after Baltimore weaved past three Palace defenders before delivering the cross. Nüsken later struck the post, and Baltimore sealed Chelsea’s victory by converting a late penalty.
The result moved Chelsea temporarily to the top of the Women’s Super League table, while Palace were left to reflect on a match in which Bartrip’s landmark goal had briefly put them ahead.
