IT was a day when Tottenham proved themselves as a bunch of tossers, both on and off the pitch.
Match report
As fans threw an avalanche of paper missiles at Chelsea players, Ange Postecoglou's frail troops threw away a two-goal lead.
Spurs now find themselves stranded in the bottom half of the table after one win in seven games in all competitions, while Chelsea threaten to stage an unlikely title challenge.
Enzo Maresca's side, two down after 12 minutes, somehow never looked likely to lose this feisty derby.
It was a crazy start, with left-back Marc Cucurella having to change his boots after his slips led to goals from Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski.
But a Jadon Sancho pearler reduced the deficit before Cole Palmer scored a pair of penalties either side of a stunning assist for Enzo Fernandez to score the decisive third.
Thanks to the postponement of the Merseyside derby, we at least have the illusion of a real title race: Chelsea are now within five points of Liverpool, having played a game more than the leaders.
But what a mess for Big Ange, who dropped James Maddison, whose goals earned Tottenham's only recent win over Manchester City.
This was the definition of 'Spursy'. There is no other team in the Premier League that can take an early two-goal lead and seem to fear it.
And as for the fans who spent the entire first half pelting crumpled pieces of cards at Chelsea players, they were a complete disgrace.
Their Australian boss is struggling to stop a full-scale uprising from the supporters while Maresca, in stark contrast, has fully understood Chelsea's bedlam.
It was this match that ended Postecoglou's honeymoon period – a frenzied, VAR-ridden match in which Spurs finished with nine men and Chelsea won 4-1.
As if taking this as motivation, Spurs went pedal-to-metal and hell-to-leather from the start – aided and abetted by Cucurella's boots.
It was a quick counter-attack from which Cucurella made his first slip, allowing Brennan Johnson to accelerate down the right and whip a cross to the near post, where Solanke got in front of Levi Colwill and poked home.
Chelsea's chaotic start was illustrated by Moises Caicedo, who took a free-kick just outside his area and found the free-kick straight into the body of Romeo Lavia, five yards away.
Within twelve minutes it was 2-0, another pratfall from Cucurella, who gave Kulusevski space to fire inside, past three defenders, and steered his shot into the bottom corner.
Cristian Romero, just back from injury along with his central defensive partner Micky Van de Ven, was forced off early and replaced by Radu Dragusin.
Chelsea soon reduced the deficit, with a superb individual goal from Sancho, who cut in from the left and filleted three defenders before firing home his shot from the far post.
The assist was by Cucurella, just like that of the two from Tottenham.
The paper-throwing antics soon reached epidemic proportions, while a Palmer angle was a long time coming.
At half-time, Spurs fans were warned to stop being silly.
The match itself was wild, from start to finish and toe to toe – Palmer fell over his feet as Sancho presented him with a glorious opportunity, Son curled one just over.
And then Fraser Forster made a stunning double save to deny Palmer and then Pedro Neto.
It was tough there. Caicedo escaped a VAR check for a red card when he hit Pape Matar Sarr's shin with a hard blow.
And Sarr then produced a thrilling header from Son Heung-Min's corner.
Son now became lively and cut back to Solanke, who shot straight at Robert Sanchez.
But Chelsea were right after the break and Sancho forced another great save from Forster, sending a big left hand to thwart the winger from close range.
Enzo Fernandez tapped one wide as former Blue Timo Werner arrived in place of the limping Brennan Johnson, to loud cheers from the away side.
Chelsea were soon level – a mad challenge from Yves Bissouma upsetting Caicedo and, inevitably, Palmer slamming home the penalty.
Son should have restored Tottenham's lead when he was sent clear but shot wide of the target.
And then came the winner: Palmer's crazy dancing feet toasted Destiny Udogie before his deflated pass was rammed home by Enzo Fernandez.
Sarr then charged at Palmer, who finished the job from the spot with a Panenka.
Son provided a consolation and scored in the seventh minute of injury time.
Competition events
0' The match is about to start!
1' match event for Tottenham vs Chelsea
3' match event for Tottenham vs Chelsea
4' Cole Palmer eventually delivers a good cross, which Levi Colwill heads over!
4' Home fans are embarrassed by throwing objects at star Palmer during corners!
5' GOAL! Error of Cucurella & Solanke movement is great! Tottenham 1-0 Chelsea
8' Cristian Romero tries a Cruyff spin in his own penalty area and cocks his crotch!
10' match event for Tottenham vs Chelsea
11' GOAL! Kulusevski snaked home a lot at the first post! Tottenham 2-0 Chelsea
12' Marc Cucurella sprinted straight to the sideline and changed his shoes!
13' Destiny Udogie shoots over goal and just wide!
14' Cristian Romero staggers away and Radu Dragusin is on! What an opening quarter!
17' GOAL! Sancho comes in from the left and pings a low swerving shot! Tottenham 2-1 Chelsea
21' Cole Palmer fails from six yards after a strong Chelsea break on the left!
24' Son breaks off on the left, cuts inside Levi Colwill and deflects a shot too high!
30' match event for Tottenham vs Chelsea
30' yellow card! Pape Matar Sarr booked for Marc Cucurella's clatter!
31' Palmer takes a left foot shot from 20 yards, Forster parries it and saves Neto's follow-up!
33' Moises Caicedo is high on a challenge and this is not good!
34' Spurs win a corner and Pape Sarr heads against the crossbar!
35' Highlight of Tottenham vs Chelsea
41' Nicolas Jackson touches and shoots, but Radu Dragusin bends the ball over!
42' Play is held up again as fans pelt Cole Palmer with cardboard!
46' Chelsea have replaced Gusto with Lavia, probably moving Caicedo to midfield!
48' Sancho exchanges passes with Marc Cucurella and gives a try, but saves!
49' Highlight of Tottenham vs Chelsea
52' Enzo Fernandez bends just wide!
53' Johnson needs some attention and limps off with Timo Werner in his place!
57' Fraser Forster's daring call & catch from a corner relieved the pressure on his team!
59' Highlight of Tottenham vs Chelsea
61' Penalty goal! Palmer fires a left shot into the corner! Tottenham 2-2 Chelsea
67' Highlight of Tottenham vs Chelsea
68' Play continues despite likely offside and Son overlaps Udogie but shoots wide!
72' Porro makes a testing free kick and Van de Ven is on the rack and heads wide!
73' GOAL! Enzo Fernández completes with a brilliant attack! Tottenham 2-3 Chelsea
73' Highlight of Tottenham vs Chelsea
76' Nicolas Jackson leaves and Christopher Nkunku enters!
77' Jadon Sancho twists and turns and gets a shot in, but it goes wide!
79' Spurs send on Bergvall, Maddison & Gray for Van de Ven, Kulusevski & Bissouma!
82' Penalty goal! Palmer smashes it through the middle and into the net! Tottenham 2-4 Chelsea
86' Highlight of Tottenham vs Chelsea
90' Maresca sends in Joao Felix and Renato Veiga for Cole Palmer and Marc Cucurella!
93' Highlight of Tottenham vs Chelsea
94' Highlight of Tottenham vs Chelsea
Setups
Tottenham XI: Fraser Forster, Son, Solanke, Bissouma, Romero, Kulusevski, Pedro Porro, Destiny Udogie, Brennan Johnson, Pape Matar Sarr, Micky van de Ven
Subs: Werner, Maddison, Reguilon, Austin, Djed Spence, Radu Drăgușin, Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall, Will Lankshear
Chelsea XI: Marc Cucurella, Sancho, Robert Sánchez, Pedro Neto, Benoît Badiashile, Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernández, Moisés Caicedo, Levi Colwill, Roméo Lavia, Nicolas Jackson
Subs: T.Adarabioyo, Nkunku, Axel Disasi, Felix, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Noni Madueke, Filip Jørgensen, Malo Gusto, Renato Veiga
Comments