John Terry's Own Goal Dooms Chelsea's Premier League Title Hopes | Soccer

Manager Jose Mourinho declared that it will be "impossible" for Chelsea to win the Premier League crown after John Terry's own goal sent the Blues to a 1-0 defeat by Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park

The Chelsea captain put through his own net in the 52nd minute. Palace full-back Joel Ward whipped in a cross from the left and, as Terry challenged Joe Ledley, the ball glanced off the captain's head and flew past Petr Cech.

It was a huge setback for Mourinho's men, who missed out on the chance to go four points clear at the top with fellow title contenders Liverpool and Manchester City still to play this weekend.

"It is now impossible to win the title," Mourinho told Sky Sports. "We depend too much on other results. With what happened two weekends ago [losing to Aston Villa] and today, it is too much now and we depend on too many results.

"Of course, with my mentality, I want to try and win every game. The main objective is to finish in the top four. The second objective is to finish in the top three, which is also important," he added.

The victory, Palace's first in the league over Chelsea since 1990, gives Tony Pulis's side a massive lift in its bid to avoid relegation as the team now sits in 16th spot, five points clear of the bottom three.

Meanwhile, West Bromwich Albion and Cardiff City produced a thrilling 3-3 draw at The Hawthorns.

Substitute Thievy Bifouma looked to have snatched three points late on for West Brom before Mats Daehli, who also came off the bench, leveled the count in stoppage time to salvage a precious point for Cardiff City.

Morgan Amalfitano and Graham Dorrans scored early goals but Jordon Mutch and Steven Caulker found the net either side of half-time for the visitors, who showed character to deny Albion again in a breathtaking finale.

The draw kept West Brom three points above Cardiff and the relegation zone.

Garry Monk registered just his second win as Swansea City head coach with a 3-0 win over Norwich City at Liberty Stadium. Jonathan de Guzman's brace helped to lift Swansea seven points clear of the relegation zone.

In other matches, Arsenal and Manchester City battled to a 1-1 tie; Stoke City defeated Hull City, 1-0; Southampton downed Newcastle, 4-0; and Manchester United beat Aston Villa, 4-1.

 

 

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"John Terry's Own Goal Dooms Chelsea's Premier League Title Hopes "