Chelsea 2-2 Tottenham: Eden Hazard strike ends Spurs' title hopes

By Oliver Yew

Tuesday 3 May 2016 09:09, UK

Tottenham saw their Premier League title dreams shattered after Chelsea came back from 2-0 down to secure a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge.

Substitute Eden Hazard scored his first home goal in a year to complete the comeback seven minutes from time and hand Leicester an historic title.

Knowing nothing but a victory would keep them in with a chance of winning a first title since 1961, Spurs stormed into a two goal first-half lead with Harry Kane (35) and Son Heung-min (44) netting within nine minutes of each other.

Tempers boiled over just before the interval when Danny Rose and Willian had to be pulled apart by Mauricio Pochettino, before Mousa Dembele appeared to gouge Diego Costa's eye.

Chelsea, buoyed by the introduction of Hazard, were right back in it in the 58th minute thanks to Gary Cahill's strike, leaving a nervous 32 minutes for both Spurs and Leicester, whose players watched the game at Jamie Vardy's house.

And they would have been celebrating as Hazard curled in a spectacular equaliser to hand Claudio Ranieri's side a first top-flight title in their 132-year history and leaving Spurs wondering what might have been.

Following Leicester's 1-1 draw at Manchester United, Spurs started the game eight points behind Ranieri's side, knowing nothing but a win would keep them in touch with the league leaders.

Much had been made of Chelsea's desire to end Tottenham's title hopes before kick-off and unsurprisingly Guus Hiddink's side flew out of the blocks with Cahill, back in the side alongside John Terry, heading Cesc Fabregas' corner wide of the upright.

Tottenham saw off the opening onslaught and had a chance of their own in the 11th minute as Rose let fly from distance, but Asmir Begovic watched on as the ball sailed over the crossbar.

In a feisty affair, John Obi Mikel and Dembele squared up to each other before Kyle Walker appeared to kick out at Pedro after the winger had gone to ground.

Cesc Fabregas fired wide in the 27th minute after good work from Diego Costa and minutes later referee Mark Clattenburg flashed the first yellow card of the night to Rose after another clash with Pedro in the build-up to the chance.

Two minutes later, it was Spurs' turn to go close with Kane finding Son at the back post, but the South Korea international lashed his shot wide of the far post.

They were not to be denied for long though as Erik Lamela slipped the ball through to Kane, who timed his run perfectly to beat the offside trap and then calmly rounded Begovic, before tapping the ball into the net for his 25th goal of the season.

The away end was celebrating again in the 44th minute as Kane pounced on Branislav Ivanovic's loose pass to pick out Christian Eriksen, who beautifully put Son in on goal, and the forward fired a right-footed shot past Begovic to put Spurs firmly on course for all three points.

There was still time before the half-time whistle for yet another fracas as Rose and Willian squared up near the touch-line, prompting Pochettino to storm onto the field to separate them as players from both sides pile in.

Bookings for Rose and Willian followed, but Dembele escaped punishment of his own after seeming to gouge Costa in the eye during the melee.

Hiddink reacted by bringing Hazard on for Pedro at the break but it was Tottenham who kept coming forward with Kane's low shot saved by Begovic before Son fired wide.

However, Chelsea seemed to be energised by the introduction of Hazard, who cut in from the left flank in the 52nd minute, firing a low shot towards the bottom corner which Hugo Lloris saved comfortably.

Six minutes later, the hosts were right back in it as Cahill brought down Willian's corner before firing firing a left-footed shot into the net.

Chelsea's tails were up as Willian's curled effort was saved and Pochettino responded by bringing on Ryan Mason for goalscorer Son.

But Hazard continued to cause problems for the visitors, who needed Walker to turn the Belgium international's low cross away to safety.

The comeback was complete seven minutes from time and it was last year's PFA Player of the Year, Hazard, who ended Spurs' title hopes.

The 25-year-old, who scored Chelsea's title-winning goal against Crystal Palace last May, secured the title for Leicester with a superb first-time shot which curled into the top corner to send the home fans - and Leicester - wild.

Tottenham's frustrations boiled over in six minutes of added time with Kane and Mason both booked for reckless challenges and unsavoury scenes continued at the final whistle, but it was Leicester's night and Ranieri had his former club to thank.

Player ratings

Chelsea: Begovic (7), Ivanovic (6), Cahill (7), Terry (7), Azpilicueta (7), Mikel (6), Matic (7), Willian (7), Fabregas (7), Pedro (6), Diego Costa (7).

Subs used: Oscar (6), Hazard (8).

Tottenham: Lloris (6), Walker (6), Alderweireld (7), Vertonghen (7), Rose (7), Dier (7), Dembele (6), Lamela (6), Eriksen (7), Son (7), Kane (8).

Subs used: Davies (5), Chadli (n/a), Mason (6).

Man of the Match: Eden Hazard