A brilliant late Eden Hazard strike following a Gary Cahill goal wiped out a 2-0 half-time deficit to preserve Blues’ long unbeaten home run against Spurs and decide this season’s title race. Pedro was on the starting eleven for 20th time this season and played the full first half of the game. Belgian winger Hazard replaced the Spaniard after the break.
The Blues started the game solidly without frequently threatening the visitors’ goal but when Harry Kane and then Heung-Min Son found the Shed End net before the interval, this game looked a lost cause.
The introduction of Hazard at half-time did much to turn the tide and when Cahill scored from a corner on the hour, Chelsea moved up a gear.
Hazard‘s equaliser with seven minutes left on the clock is a late contender for goal of the season as he worked a move with Diego Costa before unleashing an unstoppable curler. Six minutes of stoppage time were negotiated as Spurs lost their cool and collected bookings before the final whistle blew to begin Leicester’s party.
The storyline leading into the final game of this round of Premier League fixtures needed little explaining. Anything other than a win for Tottenham and Claudio Ranieri’s side were the 2015/16 champions tonight and for Chelsea, as well as the local pride that is at stake in any meeting with the Lilywhites from the north of the capital, with Stamford Bridge the venue tonight there was our 26-year unbeaten run against them in this stadium to protect, a source of immense pride for Blues followers.
For such a high-profile fixture Guus Hiddink was able to call upon his big guns in central defence with captain John Terry and Cahill returning to the team, which meant Branislav Ivanovic and Cesar Azpilicueta back in the roles they have filled most often in recent times.
John Mikel Obi and Nemanja Matic were a solid centre ahead of the defence with Cesc Fabregas pushed up to support Diego Costa with Pedro and Willian the wide men.
Spurs were able to select pre-match-doubt Eric Dier so there was only the one enforced change from the slip up against West Brom, with Son in for suspended Dele Alli.
It was one of the two restored centre-backs, Cahill, who got his head to the first corner of the game, delivered in by Fabregas. The England international’s effort was downwards but a yard or two wide.
Willian had the chance to whip a free-kick over inside the first 10 minutes but its curve towards the far post was too high for Matic who had made the best run. It was a promising start by the home side who were having a good share of possession.
Tottenham full-back Danny Rose had a good attempt at the other end before Fabregas was the next presented with a free-kick out wide. A Spurs head flicked that one away but Willian won a corner. Could Chelsea make these attacking set-pieces count? Not this time with Fabregas crowded out at the near post.
As one would expect, there was a physical edge to the encounter with referee Mark Clattenburg opting to lecture rather than show cards to those he considered early offenders. It all added to the stop-start nature of the first quarter of the game.
Spurs survived a minor scare when Rose slipped in the box when waiting to deal with a Pedro ball, following a corner that owed much to the endeavour of Fabregas in a couple of 50-50s.
On 26 minutes came the best move of the game so far as Chelsea’s commitment in the middle kept the ball pinging between blue shirts. Azpilicueta raced forward to create a chance that Fabregas placed not too far wide of the far post. Kyle Walker was booked for a late challenge on Pedro in the build-up.
Son soon had a shot for the visitors which also went wide to his and his manager’s clear frustration before on 30 minutes, Diego Costa‘s strike following a mistake by Walker was touched over by Hugo Lloris.
When the ball was in our own half, the Blues had done well so far to deny space in the central attacking zone but on 34 minutes, Lamela was found there and with the time to deliver a first-time pass. Kane was played just onside by Terry as he received it and made no mistake in going round Begovic for a 1-0 lead.
It could have been 2-0 five minutes later but for a block by Cahill and Willian had a difficult chance for a leveller but flashed well wide. Before then Jan Vertonghen had been booked for pulling the shirt of Diego Costa.
The deficit was doubled with three minutes to go before the break and it stemmed from a misplaced pass by Ivanovic near halfway. Eriksen fed Son who scored low to Begovic‘s left.
Tempers flared before half-time after a tackle between Willian and Rose and many were involved in separating them. Both players were booked and questions will be asked about a grab by Mousa Dembele at the face of Diego Costa.
Hazard for Pedro was Hiddink‘s half-time switch and the Belgian drew a save from Lloris at the near post before long. Lamela was the fourth Tottenham yellow card for scything down Fabregas.
As in the first half, the Blues were seeing enough of the ball but finding it tough to work it into the danger zone. However there had always been that set-piece threat and it paid dividends just before the hour. Willian sent the ball into the Shed End penalty area, Tottenham allowed the ball to drop and there was Cahill to stab the ball home.
A series of brutal challenges suggested it was all too much for the north Londoners as Hazard twice and Willian once were taken down but happily not injured significantly. Lamela appeared to tread on Fabregas as well. Tempers on both sides boiled over after the whistle too in the mouth of the tunnel but for Chelsea fans there were only smiles. This game had served up a treat of a drama for those watching worldwide.
- Match stats:
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Begovic; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry (c), Azpilicueta; Mikel, Matic (Oscar 78’);Willian, Fabregas, Pedro (Hazard h-t); Diego Costa.
Scorers Cahill 58’, Hazard 83’.
Booked Willian 45’, Ivanovic 71’, Mikel 88’.
Tottenham (4-2-3-1): Lloris (c); Walker, Alderweireld (Chadli 90+1), Vertonghen, Rose (Davies 81); Dier, Dembele; Lamela, Son Mason 65), Eriksen; Kane.
Scorers Kane 35’, Son 44’
Booked Walker 27’, Vertonghen 38’, Rose 45’, Lamela 51’, Eriksen 70’, Dier 88’, Kane 90+1’, Dembele 90+3’, Mason 90+4’.
Referee Mark Clattenburg
Crowd 41,545
- Match report by chelseafc.com
2 - 1 
