toptop
Gylfi
Sigurdsson's late leveller earned Tottenham a point from their 2-2 draw with
Chelsea as the race for UEFA Champions League football remains in the balance.
Rafa Benitez's men looked on course for the victory that would effectively
secure a top-four finish after goals from Oscar and Ramires either side of
Emmanuel Adebayor's stunner for Spurs.
But Sigurdsson stepped off the bench to curl home 10 minutes from time to leave
the visitors three points adrift of Chelsea and one behind Arsenal with just two
games to go.
Chelsea took the lead with 10 minutes on the clock when Oscar nodded home from
close range at the far post after Gary Cahill had met Juan Mata's corner from
the right with Tottenham's defence failing to pick up their men.
Spurs skipper Michael Dawson had to be brave to put his head directly in the way
of a stinging Eden Hazard shot in the 25th minute after the Belgium
international had cut inside Kyle Walker.
The visitors levelled moments later with a stunning effort from Adebayor, with
the big striker picking the ball up inside his own half and advancing unchecked
deep into Chelsea territory before passing the ball into Petr Cech's top corner.
Former Gunners forward Adebayor had a chance to top that stunning strike when he
was picked out by Jan Vertonghen's vision, but he could not control his volley
from 12 yards out and fired over the bar.
Benitez's men put their noses back in front in the 39th minute when Fernando
Torres threaded a pass from out on the right through the Spurs defence for
Ramires to burst onto and toe-poke his finish across Hugo Lloris and into the
bottom corner.
Chelsea made a strong start to the second period and should have extended their
lead when Hazard was found in space in the Spurs box, only to fire over the bar
after leaving Walker on his backside with a neat turn.
They looked certain to make it 3-1 in the 61st minute when a sumptuous Hazard
flick sent Mata racing away before squaring the ball to Ramires, only for the
Brazilian to lose his footing at the crucial moment and go crashing to the turf.
Spurs weathered the storm and hit back, with Vertonghen's attempted overhead
kick at the far post from Tom Huddlestone's free-kick going over the bar with
Lewis Holtby in a better position to convert behind him.
Andre Villas-Boas' men levelled 10 minutes from the end when Benoit
Assou-Ekotto's pass to Adebayor was neatly back-heeled by the big striker into
the path of Sigurdsson to fire beyond Cech for a point which keeps Spurs in the
race for the top four, although they remain behind both of their London rivals.
Click Here For Official Teamsheet
Teams
Chelsea Cech, Ivanovic, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Cole, Ramires,
Luiz, Oscar (Benayoun 84), Mata, Hazard (Moses 79), Torres
Subs Not Used Turnbull, Terry, Lampard, Ake, Ba
Booked Ramires
Goals Oscar 11, Ramires 39
Tottenham Hotspur Lloris, Walker, Dawson,
Vertonghen, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon (Sigurdsson 62), Huddlestone, Parker, Holtby
(Dempsey 70), Adebayor, Bale
Subs Not Used Friedel, Caulker, Naughton, Carroll, Defoe
Booked Vertonghen, Bale
Goals Adebayor 26, Sigurdsson 80
Attendance 41,581
Referee M. Dean