Chelsea 2 - 1 Tottenham
William Gallas fired Chelsea three points closer to the Barclays Premiership title with a stoppage-time winner to sink Spurs.
Gallas scored a screamer in the 92nd minute to give the Blues the points after Michael Essien's first Chelsea goal gave the Blues an early lead - Jermaine Jenas levelling on the stroke of half-time.
The champions edged ahead after an uncharacteristic slip from Spurs midfielder Michael Carrick, who put his defence under pressure when he misjudged a pass and Shaun Wright-Phillips nipped in to steal the ball.
• 'We're buzzing again'
The England winger sped into the box and cut a low cross into Essien's path. The Ghanaian midfielder made no mistake after fluffing an earlier chance, tucking a right-footer inside the far post.
Spurs grabbed the equaliser out of nowhere, seconds before the break.
Wright-Phillips conceded a free-kick with an unnecessary foul on Lee Young-Pyo and Carrick slanted his cross high into the Chelsea area where Michael Dawson beat Robert Huth in the air. The ball bounced in the goalmouth and Jenas reacted first, pouncing to poke the ball past Petr Cech from close range.
Spurs almost snatched the lead, 12 minutes from time, when Ledley King's long pass sent Jenas in on goal but his finish was weak.
But it was Chelsea who finished the stronger and England keeper Paul Robinson had to make a stunning fingertip save to deny substitute Didier Drogba as time appeared to be running out for the hosts.
Robinson, however, could nothing about the winner as Gallas crashed a fierce shot home from the edge of the area to spark mass celebrations from his team-mates and the jubilant Stamford Bridge supporters.
• Chelsea buzzing again
William Gallas was delighted to finish the week with a victory as Chelsea overcame their Champions League disappointment with a last-gasp win against Tottenham at Stamford Bridge.
Gallas struck in stoppage time, cutting in from the left and sending his shot into Paul Robinson's top corner to help erase the memory of losing to Barcelona on aggregate in midweek.
The game appeared to be heading towards a draw, with Jermaine Jenas cancelling out Michael Essien's opener in the first half.
Gallas told Prem Plus: 'It was important to win that game. At Barcelona we were very sad and now we think only about the Premiership.
'Tottenham played very well, they came here to win but it wasn't easy for them.'
Skipper John Terry added: 'From a bad week we are now buzzing, the double is still on and we've got a great chance.'
Of Gallas' spectacular strike, Terry added: 'I don't know where it came from. As soon as it left his boot it was in.
'We were disappointed in the week and to get a win in the last minute, we'll take it.'
Spurs coach Chris Hughton said: 'It was heartbreaking but we are still upbeat about fourth place.
'There's nine games to go and it's the first time we've been in this position at this stage of the season.
'We've well aware that this is a difficult place to come but we are upbeat about the performance.
'We started very bright, did well on the counter-attack and, in the second half, we looked more solid and coped with them fairly well.
'We were up against real quality. We came away to the best team in the country but most people would say that we deserved something from the game.'
Gallas scored a screamer in the 92nd minute to give the Blues the points after Michael Essien's first Chelsea goal gave the Blues an early lead - Jermaine Jenas levelling on the stroke of half-time.
The champions edged ahead after an uncharacteristic slip from Spurs midfielder Michael Carrick, who put his defence under pressure when he misjudged a pass and Shaun Wright-Phillips nipped in to steal the ball.
• 'We're buzzing again'
The England winger sped into the box and cut a low cross into Essien's path. The Ghanaian midfielder made no mistake after fluffing an earlier chance, tucking a right-footer inside the far post.
Spurs grabbed the equaliser out of nowhere, seconds before the break.
Wright-Phillips conceded a free-kick with an unnecessary foul on Lee Young-Pyo and Carrick slanted his cross high into the Chelsea area where Michael Dawson beat Robert Huth in the air. The ball bounced in the goalmouth and Jenas reacted first, pouncing to poke the ball past Petr Cech from close range.
Spurs almost snatched the lead, 12 minutes from time, when Ledley King's long pass sent Jenas in on goal but his finish was weak.
But it was Chelsea who finished the stronger and England keeper Paul Robinson had to make a stunning fingertip save to deny substitute Didier Drogba as time appeared to be running out for the hosts.
Robinson, however, could nothing about the winner as Gallas crashed a fierce shot home from the edge of the area to spark mass celebrations from his team-mates and the jubilant Stamford Bridge supporters.
• Chelsea buzzing again
William Gallas was delighted to finish the week with a victory as Chelsea overcame their Champions League disappointment with a last-gasp win against Tottenham at Stamford Bridge.
Gallas struck in stoppage time, cutting in from the left and sending his shot into Paul Robinson's top corner to help erase the memory of losing to Barcelona on aggregate in midweek.
The game appeared to be heading towards a draw, with Jermaine Jenas cancelling out Michael Essien's opener in the first half.
Gallas told Prem Plus: 'It was important to win that game. At Barcelona we were very sad and now we think only about the Premiership.
'Tottenham played very well, they came here to win but it wasn't easy for them.'
Skipper John Terry added: 'From a bad week we are now buzzing, the double is still on and we've got a great chance.'
Of Gallas' spectacular strike, Terry added: 'I don't know where it came from. As soon as it left his boot it was in.
'We were disappointed in the week and to get a win in the last minute, we'll take it.'
Spurs coach Chris Hughton said: 'It was heartbreaking but we are still upbeat about fourth place.
'There's nine games to go and it's the first time we've been in this position at this stage of the season.
'We've well aware that this is a difficult place to come but we are upbeat about the performance.
'We started very bright, did well on the counter-attack and, in the second half, we looked more solid and coped with them fairly well.
'We were up against real quality. We came away to the best team in the country but most people would say that we deserved something from the game.'
posted by dgarden at 8:49 am
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