Half-time: Chelsea 0 Tottenham 2

johnterry

Goals from Harry Kane and Son Heung-min put Tottenham in command in the derby at Stamford Bridge, where they must win in order to keep their slim title hopes alive.

With the home fans desperate for their team to ensure their London rivals do not win the Premier League, Chelsea’s players responded with a high-tempo start.

But they were undone 10 minutes before half-time when a neat Spurs move culminated in Erik Lamela cleverly threading the ball through to Kane, who rounded keeper Asmir Begovic before applying the finish.

And after Branislav Ivanovic gave the ball away a minute before the interval, Christian Eriksen played in Son, who coolly steered the ball past Begovic. 

Chelsea had gone close to taking an early lead when Gary Cahill headed wide from Cesc Fabregas’ left-wing corner.

Fabregas then had a chance but side-footed wide from the edge of the penalty area after being teed up by Diego Costa, who later had a powerful shot tipped over by keeper Hugo Lloris.

At the other end, Danny Rose shot wide from 25 yards, Son sent a left-footed effort well wide, and Kane fired over with a long-range free-kick before eventually breaking the deadlock.

There was controversy soon after Son’s goal. Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino broke up a scuffle between Willian and Rose near the touchline, and during a melee that followed Spurs’ Moussa Dembele appeared to poke Costa in the eye.

Cahill and skipper John Terry returned to the heart of the Chelsea defence after recovering from injuries. Eden Hazard was dropped to the Blues bench

Chelsea: Begovic; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Mikel, Matic; Willian, Fabregas, Pedro; Costa.
Subs: Amelia, Baba, Loftus-Cheek, Kenedy, Oscar, Hazard, Traore.