Spurs started the game well, helped by several financial gifts from Chelsea. But we survived that initial pressure and took control of proceedings. Tuchel spoke before the game about wanting to do that while preventing Spurs from answering, and we were actually doing that very well.
And things got even better when Chelsea opened the scoring on 20 minutes. Hugo Llloris made a tremendous save on a Kai Havertz shot, but could do nothing against Kalidou Koulibaly’s masterful volley from a Marc Cucurella corner.
Chelsea remained in control of proceedings but were unable to add to their lead, and this state of play remained true after the break as well, with Chelsea’s added switch missing several presentable chances.
And then some refereeing incompetence, aided by some missing play at the back, led to Spurs leveling midway through the second half, with Havertz and Richarlison uncalled for on the way to shot by Højbjerg, apparently not considered to be interfering. .
The benches cleared after the goal but after the nerves cooled we quickly restored the lead through Reece James.
Unfortunately, Harry Kane’s last-second equalizer from a corner, after some more incompetence on the part of the referees, would split the points.
carefree
- Two changes from last weekend, with Cucurella and Loftus-Cheek starting, both on the wing, and James dropping to right centre.
- Azpi went through Jorginho after the goal, dropping in at the back with James moving to the wing and RLC in the middle. Gallagher comes in for Kanté after injury. Pulisic for Sterling and Broja for Havertz in further similar changes.
- It’s now 40 Premier League games to be ‘unbeatable at half time’
- Chelsea hadn’t lost a Premier League home game when we were leading at half-time since October 2011
- Next: Leeds United away next Saturday
- KTBFFH
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