Chelsea staged a remarkable comeback to win 4-3 against Tottenham Hotspur in a thrilling encounter at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, reducing the gap to Premier League leaders Liverpool to just four points.
The Blues had a nightmare start as Spurs surged into an early lead. Marc Cucurella’s mistake allowed Brennan Johnson to set up Dominic Solanke, who slotted home at the near post against his former club. Minutes later, Cucurella’s error gave Johnson another chance, leading to a goal from Dejan Kulusevski, leaving Chelsea reeling at 2-0 down.
However, Chelsea responded with a goal of their own when Jadon Sancho cut inside from the left and scored with a deflected shot off the far post. Sancho could have leveled the score before halftime but mishit a pass to Cole Palmer, and Spurs escaped danger.
Just before the break, Pedro Neto tested Spurs goalkeeper Fraser Forster, who made a sharp save to deny Palmer’s follow-up shot.
Chelsea’s persistence paid off in the second half. A penalty was awarded after Yves Bissouma fouled Moises Caicedo, with Palmer converting confidently from the spot. Tottenham then missed a great opportunity to restore their lead when Son Heung-min dragged his shot wide.
Chelsea capitalized minutes later when Palmer’s blocked shot fell to Enzo Fernandez, who scored a half-volley to give Chelsea the lead.
The Blues weren’t done yet. Palmer won another penalty after being fouled by Pape Sarr and calmly converted with a cheeky Panenka, sealing the win as Tottenham fans began to leave early. Spurs managed a late consolation when Son tapped in after a brilliant run by James Maddison, but it was too little, too late.
The defeat adds pressure on Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou, whose side squandered a promising start.
Chelsea’s resilience and attacking brilliance showed they are serious contenders in this season’s title race.
Player Ratings:
Goalkeeper & Defence:
- Robert Sanchez (3/10): A poor performance, with two soft goals conceded and shaky passing under pressure. His mistakes frustrated the manager.
- Moises Caicedo (7/10): Struggled in the first half but was dominant after moving back to midfield, winning a key penalty.
- Benoit Badiashile (4/10): Struggled defensively and was frequently under pressure from Spurs, prompting a halftime tactical shift.
- Levi Colwill (5/10): Was beaten to the ball for Tottenham’s opening goal and was far from convincing, though he was better with the ball than others.
- Marc Cucurella (3/10): His errors directly contributed to both Tottenham goals, but he did provide an assist for Sancho’s goal.
Midfielders:
- Romeo Lavia (6/10): Showed composure under pressure but was substituted at halftime, making way for Caicedo to return to his natural midfield role.
- Enzo Fernandez (8/10): Orchestrated play effectively and capped his performance with a stunning goal that completed the comeback.
- Cole Palmer (8/10): Calmly converted two penalties, including a cheeky Panenka, and played a key role in the build-up to Fernandez’s goal.
Forwards:
- Pedro Neto (7/10): Lively and direct, giving Spurs’ defense trouble but couldn’t convert his chances.
- Nicolas Jackson (5/10): Had little impact on the game and was tightly marked by Spurs’ defense. Substituted for Nkunku after failing to make an impact.
- Jadon Sancho (8/10): Scored a brilliant goal and was a constant threat, showing his potential in Chelsea colors.
Subs & Manager:
- Malo Gusto (6/10): Provided width on the right flank and helped stabilize Chelsea’s midfield after Lavia’s substitution.
- Christopher Nkunku (6/10): Helped maintain attacking pressure after coming on for Jackson.
- Noni Madueke (N/A): Came on late to replace Neto.
- Joao Felix (N/A): Came on to help close out the match.
- Renato Veiga (N/A): Introduced in added time to provide fresh legs and solidify Chelsea’s defense.
Enzo Maresca (8/10): Showed great tactical flexibility, making crucial halftime adjustments that swung the momentum in Chelsea’s favor and led to a dramatic victory.
