Chelsea 2, Tottenham 2: Leicester crowned champions as Blues fightback ends Spurs title hopes in bad-tempered derby
Chelsea 2, Tottenham Hotspur 2
Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino congratulated Leicester after Chelsea’s second-half fightback extinguished his side’s title chances and confirmed the Foxes’ fairytale crowning as Premier League champions.
First-half goals from Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min hinted at the title race being prolonged, only for strikes from Gary Cahill and Eden Hazard to wreck that prospect with two games still to play.
The final whistle triggered celebrations among Leicester players, watching at the Melton Mowbray home of top scorer Jamie Vardy, at pulling off the biggest shock in top-flight history – they started the campaign as 5000-1 shots.
Read more: Leicester title win could be worth £250m
“I want to congratulate Leicester City, Claudio Ranieri and their players. It’s a fantastic season for them,” said Pochettino.
“We are very sad and disappointed now but this is a good feeling and a feeling that we need for the future. We are the youngest squad in the Premier League and I think we’re in a position which is fantastic.”
The build-up to the clash was dominated by the likes of Cesc Fabregas and Eden Hazard openly stating the extent to which Chelsea were determined to deny Tottenham a first top-flight title since 1961.
That provocative mood transcended onto the pitch as a fiery clash, which saw a record nine Tottenham players booked, unfolded. The Football Association may yet choose to intervene.
Pochettino, who refused to condemn his players for ill-discipline, waded into a tussle between Danny Rose and Willian, while midfielder Mousa Dembele appeared to gouge the eye of Blues striker Diego Costa.
“When you play for the title and play a big team like Chelsea, they want to win and we’re the same. There is nothing to say. The emotion is normal, we’re human,” added Pochettino.
“Fighting on the pitch is maybe not a good example for both teams. In football, sometimes a situation like tonight can happen.”
Spurs opened the scoring on 35 minutes when an Erik Lamela pass dissected a static Chelsea defence, allowing Kane to collect the ball, skip around exposed goalkeeper Asmir Begovic and slot into an empty net.
The visitors doubled their lead on the stroke of half time when playmaker Christian Eriksen carved open the Chelsea back-line for Son to slide an effort past Begovic.
Chelsea have never won a Premier League match when trailing by two or more goals at the break but halved their arrears shortly before the hour mark when Cahill skilfully lashed home from 12 yards following a Willian corner.
The Blues levelled inside the final 10 minutes when Hazard cleverly made space for himself, took a return pass from Costa in his stride before curling deliciously into the top corner.