Chelsea 2 Tottenham Hotspur 2
The cry went up suddenly, raucously, and steeped in the incredible. “Leicester! Leicester!”. The supporters of Chelsea soon allowed that chant to segue into another one, a spine tingling one: “Champions! Champions!”. A touch of the surreal enveloped Stamford Bridge as the greatest story in Premier League history reached its wondrous completion.
How extraordinary that Claudio Ranieri, once of this parish, a man who was removed from the Chelsea job during Roman Abramovich’s first year of ownership perhaps because of that reputation that he wasn’t combative enough to win major honours, should experience the greatest moment of his career thanks to events at Stamford Bridge. Mamma Mia. Even Claudio’s 96-year-old mother, with whom he shared lunch on this incredible day, could not have seen many stories quite like this.
Leicester City are Premier League champions, helped over the line by the deposed titleholders, as Chelsea showed the kind of defiant streak not seen anywhere near often enough this season to pierce a briefly buoyant Tottenham. Leicester’s closest challengers, 2-0 up at half-time, brimmed with intent to fight to the last. But Chelsea’s second-half reply cut them down brutally. The equalising goal, a sublime arrowing strike from Eden Hazard, brought a theatrical end to it all.
Chelsea’s important role as kingmakers, hosts to both Tottenham and Leicester during this title finale at the conclusion to their own inept Premier League defence, were pushed into some spark and spite. That was the dominant tone for a feisty encounter played on the cusp of control from the moment the ball began rolling. Never mind whatever emotions were cooking in Leicester, intensity gripped every player and every onlooker inside Stamford Bridge.
The hostilities began at helterskelter pace with a screeching tempo played in front of a salty atmosphere. The temperature lurched quickly. Cesc Fábregas flicked a kick out at Mousa Dembélé, who then became embroiled in a contretemps with Mikel John Obi. Some shoving, finger-pointing and words flared. There was no respite as Erik Lamela caught Branislav Ivanovic. The referee, Mark Clattenburg, implored everyone with an emphatic gesture to calm down. Not much chance of that.
Ivanovic clattered Rose, prompting Guus Hiddink to come and have a word with Mauricio Pochettino in his dug-out. It was surprising to say the least there was no booking until Kyle Walker bundled over Pedro.
Amidst this ferocity Tottenham’s mission was to find some composure. At the start of a busy first half they were restricted to long shots on sight. Their first glimpse of goal came in the 10th minute when Danny Rose cracked in from distance.
Heung-min Son, the replacement for the suspended Dele Alli, bent the ball past the post. Kane had the confidence to take aim from a free-kick centrally 25 yards out and thumped the ball high.
Chelsea responded with some glimmers, mostly revolving around a determined Fábregas and the odd flash from Diego Costa – one shot required strength for Hugo Lloris to fingertip away.
The game swung in the 33rd minute when Tottenham broke to seize the lead. The move was built on slick build-up play on the edge of the box as the ball was pinged from Christian Eriksen to Lamela, who prodded forwards to Kane.
Tottenham’s top scorer, who had found time in possession hard to come by up to this point in such a breathless wrestle, was suddenly gifted one of those moments where the clock almost slowed. Played onside by John Terry Kane took care of the chance.
He sidestepped Asmir Begovic and planted the ball into the net. The England striker was elated to claim his 14th goal in his last 15 games and 25th all season.
The Tottenham celebrations crescendoed a minute before half-time when they doubled their lead.
Kane won the ball in midfield and there was Eriksen, who orchestrated beautifully once again. His subtle pass, shifting play forwards and into Son’s path, unlocked the door for the South Korean to finish crisply.
Despite the increasingly emphatic difference between the two teams the negative energy did not go away. Costa got riled and stomped towards Clattenburg miming that his shirt had been tugged by Jan Vertonghen.
The brutishness escalated in first-half stoppage time as Dembélé appeared to gouge at Costa’s face. In an instant Pochettino, who had been pacing his technical area like a coiled spring, raced on to the pitch, team-mates and staff arrived and an ugly melee developed.
The midfielder who has been so crucial to Tottenham’s improvement will surely face a ban and miss the final two matches of the season. The North Londoners pressed on in the second half. Chelsea did not appear to have the quality to match the visitors from a technical point of view, and at half-time Hiddink introduced Hazard for the largely ineffective Pedro. Just before the hour mark they did find a method to finally make a footballing impression. Willian’s floated corner fell for Cahill, who unleashed some of Chelsea’s frustration by lashing the ball past Lloris.
A minute later Costa raced goalwards only to tumble before he could shape to shoot. The mood changed. Chelsea sensed an opportunity to sting their old foes. Willian was the next with a chance but Lloris saved capably. Chelsea threatened again when a ball flashed across the face of goal and Walker just managed to clear as Costa lurked for a tap-in.
Then came Hazard’s blistering coup de grace.
On Sunday, 15 May, the visitors here will be Leicester. The champions. You’d better believe it!
(Guardian service)
