Terry secures deserved point for Chelsea

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Tottenham 1 Chelsea 1

John Terry’s second-half goal secured a deserved point for Chelsea, who ended the match with 10 men after Fernando Torres was harshly sent off.

Tottenham were leading courtesy of Gylfi Sigurdsson’s fine finish when Terry headed home Juan Mata’s 65th-minute free-kick.

And the visitors were on top before Torres was shown a second yellow card following an innocuous aerial challenge on Jan Vertonghen with nine minutes remaining.

Matches between these two London rivals are intense at the best of times, but Tottenham’s emergence as possible title contenders and the relationship – or lack of one – between the two managers added spice to this encounter.

And Spurs’ former Blues boss Andre Villas-Boas, who worked under Jose Mourinho at Chelsea, Porto and Inter Milan when the pair were on much friendlier terms, had every reason to be happy at half-time.

His team’s 19th-minute opener was a top-quality goal.

Christian Eriksen got away from Frank Lampard, found Roberto Soldado and the striker laid the ball off to Sigurdsson, who went past Terry before shooting beyond keeper Petr Cech.

Spurs then had to absorb a spell of pressure, but almost doubled their lead when Paulinho fired against the post.

Chelsea continued to press after the interval and Oscar was just unable to connect with Torres’ low cross before Mata had a goal disallowed when he netted from an offside position after collecting Torres’ pass.

But the equaliser arrived when Mata, on as a half-time substitute, served up the perfect delivery for Terry to nod home.

Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris then had to react quickly to deny Andre Schurrle as Chelsea appeared to be taking control.

Instead, Mourinho’s men were left to survive an anxious final few minutes after the impressive Torres was dismissed.

Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Luiz, Terry, Cole, Ramires, Mikel (Mata 45), Lampard, Oscar (Azpilicueta 83) Torres, Hazard (Schurrle 69).
Subs not used: Essien, Schwarzer, Cahill, Eto’o.

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