Chelsea beat Spurs to win League Cup

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Chelsea 2 Tottenham 0

John Terry and Diego Costa struck either side of half-time as Chelsea won the Capital One Cup at Wembley, the first silverware of Jose Mourinho’s second spell as manager.

Skipper Terry drilled the Blues in front just before the break after Spurs failed to clear a Willian free-kick.

Costa, whose physical presence caused angst in the Tottenham defence all afternoon, doubled the lead when his angled drive deflected in via Kyle Walker.

Spurs kept the Chelsea defence under pressure in the closing stages but the outstanding Terry and Cahill ensured victory.

It ends Mourinho’s longest trophy drought of his managerial career and earned the Blues revenge for their 2008 League Cup final defeat to Spurs.

The Chelsea boss sprung a surprise ahead of kick-off, naming centre-back Kurt Zouma as the replacement in midfield for the suspended Nemanja Matic, while Petr Cech was chosen ahead of Thibaut Courtois in goal.

Cech could only watch as a ninth-minute Christian Eriksen free-kick struck the crossbar, but he was called into action to make a comfortable save from Harry Kane.

Eriksen tested him again as he shuffled the ball on to his right foot before shooting from an acute angle.

But with half-time looming, Spurs giftwrapped Chelsea their opening goal, making a hash of dealing with Willian’s delivery and Terry cashed in.

The Blues could have gone in 2-0 but Lloris was equal to a Gary Cahill header.

They were on the front foot in the second half too, Cesc Fabregas fashioning an overhead kick which Lloris gathered at the second attempt.

And the Spaniard played a key role in Chelsea’s second, slipping in Costa, who took on Walker before drilling in via the defender’s leg.

Eden Hazard curled an effort narrowly beyond the far post as a confident Chelsea began to show some swagger in their play.

Tottenham did carry a threat on the break but didn’t test Cech, although Terry produced a superb block in the box to deny Kane.

Chelsea: Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Zouma, Ramires; Willian (Cuadrado 76), Fabregas (Oscar 88), Hazard; Costa (Drogba 90).
Subs not used: Courtois, Filipe Luis, Ake, Remy.

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