toptop
Tottenham's
woes at Wembley continued with a 2-1 defeat to Chelsea in their first league
game at their temporary home.
After exquisitely putting the champions ahead with an first-half free-kick,
Marcos Alonso snatched a dramatic win in the 88th minute with a shot Spurs
captain Hugo Lloris will feel he should have saved, six minutes after Michy
Batshuayi's own goal had levelled the contest.
It means Spurs have now lost their last four games against their London rivals
at Wembley, and have only tasted victory at the national stadium once since
beating the Blues in the 2008 League Cup final. Chelsea, meanwhile, bounce back
from their opening-day defeat by Burnley with the first win of their title
defence.
Player ratings
Tottenham: Lloris (5), Trippier (5), Alderweireld (6),
Vertonghen (6), Davies (5), Wanyama (5), Dembele (6), Dier (5), Eriksen (7),
Alli (5), Kane (6).
Subs: Son (6), Janssen (n/a), Sissoko (4).
Chelsea: Courtois (7), Christensen, (5) Rudiger (5), Luiz (6),
Azpilicueta (5), Alonso (9), Moses (5), Kante (6), Bakayoko (6), Willian (5),
Morata (6).
Subs: Pedro (n/a), Batshuayi (4).
Man of the match: Marcos Alonso
Having missed the crucial penalty in Chelsea's Community Shield defeat by
Arsenal, Alvaro Morata was presented with the chance to atone five minutes into
his first start for the champions, but he headed Cesar Azpilicueta's cross wide.
The miss failed to unsettle Chelsea as Spurs, having awoken from their early
malaise, dominated possession but failed to test Thibaut Courtois, Dele Alli
flashing a shot over on the 15-minute mark after Andreas Christiensen's error.
Just as Spurs looked to have taken control of the game they were undone by the
brilliance of Alonso, who whipped an unstoppable free-kick over the lofty wall
and the reach of Lloris.
The hosts rallied as Kane drew Courtois into action at his near post before
fizzing a low drive through Antonio Rudiger's legs but a yard wide, before
Christian Eriksen's wicked free-kick managed to evade everyone in the penalty
area.
There was still time for more from Spurs as Kane rattled the post on 42 minutes
and Ben Davies stung the palms of Courtois, but there was no way through.
Barely a minute into the second half, Spurs had two glorious chances to equalise
as Kane's back heel released Eriksen, whose shot was turned behind for a corner,
from which Kane failed to connect with a free header from eight yards.
Spurs had appeals for a penalty denied on the hour by referee Anthony Taylor,
who deemed Alli's cross to have struck Azpilicueta's chest. Chelsea had the
chance to put the game to bed but Morata and Moses failed to convert chances,
before Willian struck the post on 73 minutes.
And that opened the door for Spurs to equalise as Batshuayi turned Eriksen's
free-kicked beyond Courtois, but Alonso had the last word, sending the
travelling Chelsea contingent, and boss Antonio Conte, into raptures.
Opta stats
Spurs' 19-game home Premier League unbeaten run has come to an end, with Chelsea
the first side to beat Spurs away from home since Southampton in May 2016.
Tottenham have lost seven of their last nine matches at Wembley (W1 D1) and lost
each of their last four games against Chelsea there.
Harry Kane had eight shots, his most in a Premier League game without finding
the net.
Kane has now had 34 shots and played 12 games in the month of August without
scoring in the Premier League.
Marcos Alonso has scored two direct free-kicks in the Premier League since the
start of last season, with only Philippe Coutinho (3) scoring more.
Man of the match - Marcos Alonso
A match-winning brace from the wing-back who continues to prove time and again
that he knows where the goal is. His free-kick to open the scoring was sublime
and he was in the right place to power home the winner, even if Hugo Lloris
should have done much better with his effort.
What next?
Tottenham go in search of their first home win at Wembley when Burnley travel to
the national stadium on Saturday. Chelsea, meanwhile, will look to do the same
when they host Everton at Stamford Bridge on Sunday lunchtime.
Teams
Tottenham Hotspur Lloris (c), Trippier (Janssen 90),
Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies (Sissoko 80), Dier (Son 68), Wanyama, Dembele,
Eriksen, Alli, Kane
Subs Not Used Vorm, Wimmer, Winks, Walker-Peters
Booked Dier, Vertonghen, Alderweireld, Kane
Goals Batshuayi 82 (og)
Chelsea Courtois, Rudiger, Luiz, Christensen, Azpilicueta (c),
Kante, Bakayoko, Alonso, Moses, Willian (Pedro 78), Morata (Batshuayi 79)
Subs Not Used Caballero, Musonda, Kenedy, Tomori, Scott
Booked Rudiger, Luiz, Alonso
Goals Alonso 24, 88
Attendance 73,587
Referee Anthony Taylor