Tottenham 2 Chelsea 1 - Lethal Lennon ends years of agony
THEY had been waiting 19 years here for the day to come, so when it did it needed to be special.
But as the Spurs supporters, who have grown sick and tired of the cockerel being left tattered and torn by Chelsea, went home crowing about Aaron Lennon last night, there was a new strut in their stride.
Lennon's bright yellow boots meant the England flier had put himself under pressure to deliver, especially with Chelsea already casting envious eyes in his direction.
Yet on an evening when rockets were all the rage, Lennon's explosion of pure skill finally ended the Blues taunts about "Three Point Lane" and ensured that the tear-up at Tottenham caused Chelsea far more damage than the Battle of Barcelona.
While Jose Mourinho went away moaning about John Terry's red card and Didier Drogba's disallowed goal, the home fans were only interested in the courage of their team and the special moment from Lennon.
Mourinho dismissed any notion that he is interested in Lennon but as the jet-heeled winger killed Ashley Cole stone dead when Robbie Keane's cross deflected into his path, and then steered nervelessly past Hilario with his left foot, he displayed all the attributes of a player who would fit perfectly into the Stamford Bridge machine.
In the end, despite a nerve-shredding last 10 minutes even when Terry's ridiculous red card left the Blues a man short, they just about deserved it too and even Mourinho allowed Spurs their day of delight, clasping Martin Jol firmly by the hand, congratulating each and every member of the Tottenham team and even applauding the home fans who had baited him relentlessly.
Yet if anybody had suggested the champions would end up on the losing side after the first 20 minutes, they would have been halfway to the funny farm.
Chelsea had begun in belligerent, remorseless fashion, looking as if they would simply bulldoze Spurs off the park.
Only a brilliant, lastgasp recovery challenge by Ledley King prevented Arjen Robben from converting Drogba's clever clip over the top but the relief lasted as long as the resulting corner.
King probably thought he had done enough to nod away Frank Lampard's delivery, despite Benoit Assou-Ekotto's failure to clear, as the ball fell to Claude Makelele 23 yards out.
The France midfielder had only netted once previously for the Blues, but his superb strike bent beyond Paul Robinson's groping fingers.
Graham Poll's early whistle, for an alleged foul by Terry on King, then chalked off a Drogba header.
Spurs were still in the contest and suddenly Dimitar Berbatov began to play, with his immaculate first touch giving Jol's men a platform.
When Berbatov induced a rash foul from Paulo Ferreira on 25 minutes, Tottenham got their reward. Jermaine Jenas hit in with pace and conviction from the left and Michael Dawson got in front of Drogba to flick a header beyond Hilario and in off the inside of a post.
Jol moved Lennon to the right and flooded midfield as Berbatov did the work of three on his own up front and, while Drogba's overhead kick flashed wide, Keane wasted a glorious chance to capitalise on Lennon's precocious genius, as the winger zipped past Cole and Lampard and picked out the Irishman's head.
But when Keane returned the compliment seven minutes after the break with a great run, Lennon's perfect first touch past Cole was matched with his second into the net.
Hossam Ghaly escaped with a booking for a blatant elbow on Michael Essien, but Spurs were looking for more.
Berbatov, brought down for Terry's first booking, prodded weakly at a gaping chance.
Then Terry's minor tug on King as they battled for Robben's free-kick saw Poll taking over-the-top action on the England skipper.
Even with Chelsea down to 10, it was hairy for Spurs. Robinson denied substitute Salomon Kalou, King deflected Lampard's effort over the bar and then Robben collected from Michael Ballack and beat the England keeper all ends up with a curler that bounced back off the far post.
But it was not meant to be and suddenly Chelsea are three points adrift of Manchester United. Fergie must have been beaming. Spurs, for once, could not believe their luck either.
Jol revealed he was going to play Jermain Defoe and Mido but changed his mind on Friday after seeing Keane and Berbatov destroy Bruges.
He said: "It's been a great week for us, first in Europe and then beating the champions, especially as Chelsea had two more days to prepare."
41% POSSESSION 59%
2 SHOTS ON TARGET 4
5 SHOTS OFF TARGET 9
1 OFFSIDES 2
7 CORNERS 10
17 FOULS 16
3 YELLOW CARDS 4
0 RED CARDS 1
ATTENDANCE: 36,070
MAN OF THE MATCH: King
TEAMS AND RATINGS
TOTTENHAM: Robinson 7, Chimbonda 7, Dawson 8, King 9, Assou-Ekotto 6, Ghaly 6, Jenas 7, Zokora 7, Lennon 8, Berbatov 8, Keane 8 (Defoe, 85, 6)
CHELSEA: Hilario 6, Ferreira 5 (Boulahrouz 46, 4 (Kalou, 63, 6), Carvalho 6, Terry 6, A Cole 5, Essien 7, Ballack 7, Makelele 6 (Wright-Phillips, 68, 5), Lampard 6, Drogba 6, Robben 6
Referee: GRAHAM POLL
But as the Spurs supporters, who have grown sick and tired of the cockerel being left tattered and torn by Chelsea, went home crowing about Aaron Lennon last night, there was a new strut in their stride.
Lennon's bright yellow boots meant the England flier had put himself under pressure to deliver, especially with Chelsea already casting envious eyes in his direction.
Yet on an evening when rockets were all the rage, Lennon's explosion of pure skill finally ended the Blues taunts about "Three Point Lane" and ensured that the tear-up at Tottenham caused Chelsea far more damage than the Battle of Barcelona.
While Jose Mourinho went away moaning about John Terry's red card and Didier Drogba's disallowed goal, the home fans were only interested in the courage of their team and the special moment from Lennon.
Mourinho dismissed any notion that he is interested in Lennon but as the jet-heeled winger killed Ashley Cole stone dead when Robbie Keane's cross deflected into his path, and then steered nervelessly past Hilario with his left foot, he displayed all the attributes of a player who would fit perfectly into the Stamford Bridge machine.
In the end, despite a nerve-shredding last 10 minutes even when Terry's ridiculous red card left the Blues a man short, they just about deserved it too and even Mourinho allowed Spurs their day of delight, clasping Martin Jol firmly by the hand, congratulating each and every member of the Tottenham team and even applauding the home fans who had baited him relentlessly.
Yet if anybody had suggested the champions would end up on the losing side after the first 20 minutes, they would have been halfway to the funny farm.
Chelsea had begun in belligerent, remorseless fashion, looking as if they would simply bulldoze Spurs off the park.
Only a brilliant, lastgasp recovery challenge by Ledley King prevented Arjen Robben from converting Drogba's clever clip over the top but the relief lasted as long as the resulting corner.
King probably thought he had done enough to nod away Frank Lampard's delivery, despite Benoit Assou-Ekotto's failure to clear, as the ball fell to Claude Makelele 23 yards out.
The France midfielder had only netted once previously for the Blues, but his superb strike bent beyond Paul Robinson's groping fingers.
Graham Poll's early whistle, for an alleged foul by Terry on King, then chalked off a Drogba header.
Spurs were still in the contest and suddenly Dimitar Berbatov began to play, with his immaculate first touch giving Jol's men a platform.
When Berbatov induced a rash foul from Paulo Ferreira on 25 minutes, Tottenham got their reward. Jermaine Jenas hit in with pace and conviction from the left and Michael Dawson got in front of Drogba to flick a header beyond Hilario and in off the inside of a post.
Jol moved Lennon to the right and flooded midfield as Berbatov did the work of three on his own up front and, while Drogba's overhead kick flashed wide, Keane wasted a glorious chance to capitalise on Lennon's precocious genius, as the winger zipped past Cole and Lampard and picked out the Irishman's head.
But when Keane returned the compliment seven minutes after the break with a great run, Lennon's perfect first touch past Cole was matched with his second into the net.
Hossam Ghaly escaped with a booking for a blatant elbow on Michael Essien, but Spurs were looking for more.
Berbatov, brought down for Terry's first booking, prodded weakly at a gaping chance.
Then Terry's minor tug on King as they battled for Robben's free-kick saw Poll taking over-the-top action on the England skipper.
Even with Chelsea down to 10, it was hairy for Spurs. Robinson denied substitute Salomon Kalou, King deflected Lampard's effort over the bar and then Robben collected from Michael Ballack and beat the England keeper all ends up with a curler that bounced back off the far post.
But it was not meant to be and suddenly Chelsea are three points adrift of Manchester United. Fergie must have been beaming. Spurs, for once, could not believe their luck either.
Jol revealed he was going to play Jermain Defoe and Mido but changed his mind on Friday after seeing Keane and Berbatov destroy Bruges.
He said: "It's been a great week for us, first in Europe and then beating the champions, especially as Chelsea had two more days to prepare."
41% POSSESSION 59%
2 SHOTS ON TARGET 4
5 SHOTS OFF TARGET 9
1 OFFSIDES 2
7 CORNERS 10
17 FOULS 16
3 YELLOW CARDS 4
0 RED CARDS 1
ATTENDANCE: 36,070
MAN OF THE MATCH: King
TEAMS AND RATINGS
TOTTENHAM: Robinson 7, Chimbonda 7, Dawson 8, King 9, Assou-Ekotto 6, Ghaly 6, Jenas 7, Zokora 7, Lennon 8, Berbatov 8, Keane 8 (Defoe, 85, 6)
CHELSEA: Hilario 6, Ferreira 5 (Boulahrouz 46, 4 (Kalou, 63, 6), Carvalho 6, Terry 6, A Cole 5, Essien 7, Ballack 7, Makelele 6 (Wright-Phillips, 68, 5), Lampard 6, Drogba 6, Robben 6
Referee: GRAHAM POLL
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