Chelsea 2-2 Tottenham – Match Report

The match that we had all been waiting for – if not the whole season, then at least the whole week – a London derby at Stamford Bridge! Chelsea looked to retain their 26-year-long unbeaten home run against Tottenham, while the visitors were in need of three wins out of three to stand a chance in the title race against Leicester City.

And if you were still wondering what Chelsea fans think of the Spurs side, Stamford Bridge were as loud as ever to prove you the point. What comes to the players as well, it was every single one of the twenty-two men on the pitch playing from their skin, right from the star.

Inside the first ten minutes the Blues got close from a Fabregas corner, as Gary Cahill directed his header just wide from the post. The Spurs midfielder Moussa Dembele also was well involved in the opening minutes after getting in a scramble with Chelsea’s Cesc Fabregas and John Obi Mikel.

Tactically Chelsea began the derby game with some well attacking football, pressing the Spurs’ defensive line with full force right from the start, making the defenders commit as many fouls and mistakes as possible.

 

Chelsea got their best chance of the game through a wonderfully fought counter attack, ending up in a shot just-wide from Fabregas. The way players like Diego Costa and others have turned up for tonight was shown right there, as despite challenges flying in from doors and windows, the players proved they were all ready for anything to retain the unbeaten run and destroy the visitors’ title hopes.

The first 30 minutes were equally dominant on both sides, with chances opening up time after time. With some time-to-time questionable tackles as well, the game had its all features to gather a wonderful derby match.

Unfortunate for the Blues and Leicester though, the second placed Tottenham took the lead after 35 minutes of play. Harry Kane, who finally was able to trick the hosts’ defensive line, knocked in his 24th goal of the season to put Spurs 1-0 ahead to lift the visitors’ title hopes.

Eric Lamela and Christian Eriksen play good and simple one-touch football to progress near the Blues’ defensive line, finally setting free the England international for a breakaway through a beautiful pass between the Chelsea center backs, leaving the diving Begovic hopeless as Kane dribbles well to get past him before placing the ball into the empty net. The return-maker Terry could’ve done better to adjust the offside trap better, but unfortunately was left rooted to his spot right there.

Chelsea did their best to get a quick response on the conceded goal, but had it gone all wrong by conceding one more on the brink of the half. Hueng-Min Son, who missed two good opportunities earlier, finished a great goal to add even more pressure on Leicester and the Blues.

Chelsea’s humble defensive line was pressed high up the pitch leading Branislav Ivanovic to lose the ball in midfield, giving it to Eriksen, who as a world-class play-maker was able to play the ball through for Son on a run, who made no mistake to punish the Chelsea defence from yet again fatal error. All of a sudden the game had turned into a game based on current form, not on a gamed based on history.

Before Mark Clattenburg finally got to blow the largely emotional first half to an end, a huge shuffle between the players and managers took its place following Danny Rose’s rough challenge on Willian by the sideline. Both of the players got booked for reacting into the foul so bad, but the worst of the most was Dembele’s unseen poke into an eye against Diego Costa. Spurs ace Dele Alli is already suffering from an after-match ruled ban for punching West Brom midfielder Yacob in their last game, and whether the FA have the guts to rule out another Tottenham player for another decisive game, Dembele should be the one.

Returning onto the pitch from the half-time, the teams picked right from where they had left of. Eden Hazard, who was expected to start tonight after a man of the match performance against Bournemouth, was subbed on in hope of a comeback. However the only way Chelsea could’ve seemingly get back into the game was if a Spurs player was sent off.

Chelsea though fought their best they could and got one back after an hour of play! Diego Costa did brilliantly to win a corner, which Willian sent in towards the big English center backs, from where Gary Cahill got on the end of it to take a touch and strike a left-footed volley to the back of the net.

The goal really made a difference to the game, as right after it Spurs lost their all intensity, giving Chelsea a huge lift to their play. Mauricio Pochettino didn’t hesitate to make a substitution and change the tactic to a more defensive style, hoping to not concede again. All the fans around the stadium stood up from their seats and got louder than ever.

Tottenham had picked one of the very well-known Chelsea tactics, closing the store and clearing the ball as much as possible to waste time in concern of another home side goal. Spurs, who seemed more nervy than ever when the clock was slowly ticking down, were more than afraid of a possible slip, a possible error that could end their title chase right there.

With just seven minutes on the clock, the slip finally happens! Eden Hazard, who had gone missing since last weekend, stands up to decide a Premier League title with a season after another! The match looked all but alive at half-time but after the hosts’ deadlock was broke through a Cahill volley, an equalizer was everywhere to be seen.

Hazard did it all to himself really, as after a brilliant dribble through the crowded midfield, he plays a lovely one-two with Diego Costa, curling the ball into the top corner with a superb shot out of Lloris’s, or any goalkeeper’s reach. The Blues love their ex men, and this time they were doing it all for Claudio Ranieri.

It was all about win and death for Pochettino’s side, and despite there was a complete six minutes to play for of injury time, the visitors had lost the plot as their game contributed on fouling for their annoyance and frustration, for losing the title at Stamford Bridge.

And as the full-time whistle blows, Leicester City are crowded as Premier League champions and Tottenham left without a trophy and a win at the Bridge for 26 years running! Congratulations for the Tinkerman, and Keep the Blue Flag Flying High!


Goals (Assists): 58′ Cahill (Willian), 83′ Hazard (Diego Costa); 35′ Kane (Lamela), 44′ Son (Eriksen)

Bookings: 45′ Willian, 71′ Ivanovic, 87′ Mikel; 27′ Walker, 38′ Vertonghen, 45′ Rose, 51′ Lamela, 70′ Eriksen, 87′ Dier, 90′ Dembele, 90′ Kane, 90′ Mason.

Chelsea subs:
46′ Hazard on for Pedro
78′ Oscar on for Matic

Spurs subs:
65′ Mason on for Son
81′ Davies on for Son
90′ Chadli on for Alderweireld

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