toptop
Tottenham
saw their Premier League title dreams shattered after Chelsea came back from 2-0
down to secure a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge.
Substitute Eden Hazard scored his first home goal in a year to complete the
comeback seven minutes from time and hand Leicester an historic title.
Knowing nothing but a victory would keep them in with a chance of winning a
first title since 1961, Spurs stormed into a two goal first-half lead with Harry
Kane (35) and Son Heung-min (44) netting within nine minutes of each other.
Tempers boiled over just before the interval when Danny Rose and Willian had to
be pulled apart by Mauricio Pochettino, before Mousa Dembele appeared to gouge
Diego Costa's eye.
Chelsea, buoyed by the introduction of Hazard, were right back in it in the 58th
minute thanks to Gary Cahill's strike, leaving a nervous 32 minutes for both
Spurs and Leicester, whose players watched the game at Jamie Vardy's house.
And they would have been celebrating as Hazard curled in a spectacular equaliser
to hand Claudio Ranieri's side a first top-flight title in their 132-year
history and leaving Spurs wondering what might have been.
Following Leicester's 1-1 draw at Manchester United, Spurs started the game
eight points behind Ranieri's side, knowing nothing but a win would keep them in
touch with the league leaders.
Much had been made of Chelsea's desire to end Tottenham's title hopes before
kick-off and unsurprisingly Guus Hiddink's side flew out of the blocks with
Cahill, back in the side alongside John Terry, heading Cesc Fabregas' corner
wide of the upright.
Tottenham saw off the opening onslaught and had a chance of their own in the
11th minute as Rose let fly from distance, but Asmir Begovic watched on as the
ball sailed over the crossbar.
In a feisty affair, John Obi Mikel and Dembele squared up to each other before
Kyle Walker appeared to kick out at Pedro after the winger had gone to ground.
Cesc Fabregas fired wide in the 27th minute after good work from Diego Costa and
minutes later referee Mark Clattenburg flashed the first yellow card of the
night to Rose after another clash with Pedro in the build-up to the chance.
Two minutes later, it was Spurs' turn to go close with Kane finding Son at the
back post, but the South Korea international lashed his shot wide of the far
post.
They were not to be denied for long though as Erik Lamela slipped the ball
through to Kane, who timed his run perfectly to beat the offside trap and then
calmly rounded Begovic, before tapping the ball into the net for his 25th goal
of the season.
The away end was celebrating again in the 44th minute as Kane pounced on
Branislav Ivanovic's loose pass to pick out Christian Eriksen, who beautifully
put Son in on goal, and the forward fired a right-footed shot past Begovic to
put Spurs firmly on course for all three points.
There was still time before the half-time whistle for yet another fracas as Rose
and Willian squared up near the touch-line, prompting Pochettino to storm onto
the field to separate them as players from both sides pile in.
Bookings for Rose and Willian followed, but Dembele escaped punishment of his
own after seeming to gouge Costa in the eye during the melee.
Hiddink reacted by bringing Hazard on for Pedro at the break but it was
Tottenham who kept coming forward with Kane's low shot saved by Begovic before
Son fired wide.
However, Chelsea seemed to be energised by the introduction of Hazard, who cut
in from the left flank in the 52nd minute, firing a low shot towards the bottom
corner which Hugo Lloris saved comfortably.
Six minutes later, the hosts were right back in it as Cahill brought down
Willian's corner before firing firing a left-footed shot into the net.
Chelsea's tails were up as Willian's curled effort was saved and Pochettino
responded by bringing on Ryan Mason for goalscorer Son.
But Hazard continued to cause problems for the visitors, who needed Walker to
turn the Belgium international's low cross away to safety.
The comeback was complete seven minutes from time and it was last year's PFA
Player of the Year, Hazard, who ended Spurs' title hopes.
The 25-year-old, who scored Chelsea's title-winning goal against Crystal Palace
last May, secured the title for Leicester with a superb first-time shot which
curled into the top corner to send the home fans - and Leicester - wild.
Tottenham's frustrations boiled over in six minutes of added time with Kane and
Mason both booked for reckless challenges and unsavoury scenes continued at the
final whistle, but it was Leicester's night and Ranieri had his former club to
thank.
Click Here For Official Teamsheet
Player ratings
Chelsea: Begovic (7), Ivanovic (6), Cahill (7), Terry (7),
Azpilicueta (7), Mikel (6), Matic (7), Willian (7), Fabregas (7), Pedro (6),
Diego Costa (7).
Subs used: Oscar (6), Hazard (8).
Tottenham: Lloris (6), Walker (6), Alderweireld (7), Vertonghen
(7), Rose (7), Dier (7), Dembele (6), Lamela (6), Eriksen (7), Son (7), Kane
(8).
Subs used: Davies (5), Chadli (n/a), Mason (6).
Man of the Match: Eden Hazard
Teams
Chelsea Begovic, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry (c), Azpilicueta,
Mikel, Matic (Oscar 77), Fabregas, Willian, Pedro (Hazard 45), Costa
Subs Not Used Amelia, Baba, Traore, Kenedy, Loftus-Cheek
Booked Ivanovic, Willian, Mikel
Goals Cahill 58, Hazard 83
Tottenham Hotspur Lloris, Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen,
Rose (Davies 81), Dier, Dembele, Son (Mason 64), Eriksen, Lamela, Kane
Subs Not Used Vorm, N’Jie, Chadli, Wimmer, Carroll
Booked Walker, Vertonghen, Rose, Lamela, Eriksen, Dier,
Dembele, Kane, Mason
Goals Kane 35, Son 44
Attendance 41,545
Referee Mark Clattenburg