LONDON (AP) — Alvaro Morata continued his recent resurgence with two goals and fellow Spaniard Pedro added a third to inspire Chelsea to a 3-1 victory against Crystal Palace in the English Premier League on Sunday.
Unbeaten Chelsea made a slow start but Morata cheered the Stamford Bridge crowd by putting his team in front from close range in the 32nd minute after pouncing on a cross by Pedro.
Roy Hodgson's Palace, beaten in its previous five league games, equalized early in the second half when James McArthur sent Andros Townsend racing clear and he slammed a ferocious right-foot shot into the net.
Chelsea reacted by bringing on dangerman Eden Hazard and Mateo Kovacic for Willian and Ross Barkley, and within minutes the home team was back in front in the London derby.
Hazard took a free kick on the right and the ball eluded several players in the penalty box before reaching the unmarked Morata at the back post, and he struck his fourth goal in his last four league games.
Pedro added the third goal from a left-wing cross by another Spaniard, Marcos Alonso, in the 70th.
Chelsea is in second place, two points behind leader Manchester City.
