Mata delivers derby victory for Chelsea
Tottenham 2-4 Chelsea
Juan Mata’s superb second-half double saw Premier League leaders Chelsea come from behind to win a frenetic and compelling London derby.
Gary Cahill’s volley put them ahead, but Spurs made a blistering start to the second period, with goals from William Gallas and Jermain Defoe leaving boss Andre Villas-Boas within sight of a victory over the club that sacked him in March.
But Mata levelled with a measured 18-yard strike and his equally cool finish from Eden Hazard’s fine pass made it 3-2.
And substitute Daniel Sturridge sealed Chelsea’s first league win at White Hart Lane since 2005 in stoppage time, tapping the ball home from a yard after more great work by Mata.
The Blues, who stretched their lead at the top to seven points, were good value for their second win in north London within a month
But their seventh success in eight league games seemed in serious doubt after a disastrous start to the second half.
Spurs, without father-to-be Gareth Bale, had struggled to deal with the guile and movement of Chelsea’s attacking trio of Hazard, Oscar and Mata until then.
The European champions, who this morning confirmed that John Terry will remain as captain despite his much-publicised ban, went ahead when Cahill smashed the ball into the roof of the net after Gallas could only half clear a deep corner.
Chelsea wasted a number of excellent breakaway chances to create a second goal before the break, with Mata going closest when he blazed the ball over after keeper Brad Friedel saved his first shot.
Spurs also had a couple of decent openings as the half wore on, with Defoe and Gylfi Sigurdsson both going close.
And they continued in the same vein on the resumption and an increasingly rushed and rattled Chelsea found themselves trailing.
Gallas, playing against his former side, headed in from close range a minute after the break.
With Chelsea suddenly unable to retain possession, Defoe then cleverly diverted Aaron Lennon’s mis-hit shot past Petr Cech.
Mata drew Chelsea level with a fine strike after another poor Gallas clearance, and another exquisite finish from the Spaniard restored the lead.
Both sides created opportunities late on, Lennon and Kyle Walker almost catching Cech out with long-range efforts and Fernando Torres missing two great openings for Chelsea.
But Sturridge sealed the win and settled the nerves after more fine work by the majestic Mata.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech; Ivanovic, Luiz, Cahill, Cole; Ramires, Mikel; Oscar (Sturridge 81), Hazard (Lampard 89), Mata; Torres.
Subs not used: Turnbull, Romeu, Moses, Azpilicueta, Bertrand.
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