Tottenham vs Chelsea: Can Spurs maintain their momentum?

The former hero of Tottenham’s supporters, Mauricio Pochettino who led his team to the Champions League final, is currently doing so with another club – the Blues (Chelsea). On visiting his previous area, he might get varied warm reception. The club of Chelsea has not been shining in the league and they are on the 13th position, but a win will force them into a top-ten club.

But for now, Spurs seem unbeatable under Postecoglou’s leadership, having no Premier League losses recorded so far. This is a tight London derby and any win could propel them above Man City with a slight lead of two points on top of Premier League.

Let’s take a look at the match highlights:

First-half begins!!!

• In the 1^st minute, the play is on, and here comes the visitors’ serve! Will they manage to continue at an all-winning streak? One will know that in the subsequent 90 min. Stay tuned!
• In the 6^th minute, it’s a goal!!! Spurs scores early, so as Kulusevski! Within just five minutes after kick-off, the hosts now lead by one goal! The play proceeds in style when Maddison scores a goal from the grand cross-field pass and sets up the fast break. Sarr collects and skilfully passes to Kulusevski on the right side. However, as if he had poise, Kulusevski moves the ball onto his left leg before taking a shot. His effort receives an unexpected fortune, deviation of Colwill sends Sanchez on dead end, the ball rolls past him into the goal. Postecoglou’s team scores first; they are 1 – 0 up!!
• In the 11^th minute, it’s a save! For a second, Maddison makes a mistake by losing the ball even without much pressure, and just behind it runs sterling who puts it in Jackson s pocket. The striker stops briefly but regains some little distance for the shot. Well-struck into the bottom corner, but Vicario has thoughts about something else. He dives to his left, throwing out an imposing hand and sends it miles away for a corner. Close call!
• In the 13^th minute, it’s no goal! Spurs give an exquisite exhibition of interchange, cutting up the Chelsea defence with perfect passes. A precise pass from Bissouma finds Johnson on the sidelines and sends in an early cross into the center of play that Johnson finds him well-positioned with Son. The ball hits Chelsea’s goalkeeper as Son strikes a first-time shot that looks like it catches the latter off guard. Its perfect though as the flag for offside jumps up to halt us and we are left with nothing more than hoping the referee overturns his initial decision through a VAR review.
• In the 15^th minute, it stays 1-0! In this case there was very little margin of error, only for the VAR to confirm Son was just offside. The goal is disallowed. There is still one goal difference between Spurs and son despite spur’s team disappoint with them combing so well in that play.
• In the 18^th minute, Ugogie gets the first yellow card of the match after a brutal foul on Sterling. It appeared dangerous; maybe a two-foot and this saw VAR get involved. Despite this, the final decision is to maintain the first yellow card judgement. Udogie manages to remain in play while Sterling manages to avoid serious injury though his touch would have resulted in the same if it had connected with full force.
• In the 21^st minute, it’s a goal!!! Sterling draws Chelsea level!!! The beginning has been hard for Chelsea but Sterling ensures that they find the equalizer amidst all this. The man drives the ball into Spur’s penalty area and even though his first shot is blocked, luck is on their side as it bounces back to them. However, sterling gains himself and executes the finish, tying the score at one. However, he was saved by VAR who has doubt that the ball will hit the arm due to its position.
• In the 27^th minute, it’s a goal!!! Caicedo equalizes with a beauty!!! However, the appeals for a penalty are not paid attention to but the play goes on as the ball comes to Caicedo a few yards beyond the D-box. The then-ex Brighton player does not mind, launching a precise, full first-time volley into goalbound. It is perfect execution with the ball rising above Vicario and hitting straight into the target. However, the celebration is stopped – the raise of the offside flag. It is claimed that Jackson, out of bounds at the time, could possibly have blocked Vicario’s view. The situation has been referred to VAR and it is being reviewed.
• In the 29^th minute, it’s a no goal!!! Following the assessment by VAR, Jackson was found to have been in an offside position while also obstructing Vicario’s view and hence the goal was ruled out for Caicedo wonderful effort. However, the drama does not stop here; VAR is currently assessing a separate issue of Romero’s challenge early into the build-up. They are assessing whether the player deserves a penalty kick, or worse, a red card. Suspense persists, while officials conduct thorough investigations.
• In the 31^st minute, a penalty and a red card?!! Replay footage indicates that Romero’s tackle of Fernandez was within the penalty area and appears quite reckless, with his following through of the tackle making high impact on Fernandez in the leg. The decision could back fire on Romero and be considered as a red card against the challenge. This means that, the officials are looking at how bad the foul is in order decide on the score.
• In the 33^rd minute, Romero is sent off!!! Following consideration, VAR and the game’s leader Michael Oliver believe that Romero had committed a blatant foul warranting a penalty kick against him to Chelsea United plus a direct red card. It was an inappropriate take which could well have badly hurt his fellow international opponent. Now, the Spurs have but ten players on the field and there lies an important point of this game.
• In the 35^th minute, it’s a goal!!! Palmer converts with authority!!! Twelve yards is where he was known for being trustworthy and so he might be getting lucky here. He hits towards the bottom right but despite the good guess by Vicario that makes for a sizeable shot at it, he does not have sufficient strength therein. After the rebound hits the post, Spurs are frustrated as the ball instead moves back up and rolls over the line. In the blink of an eye, the match scores are 1-1 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium!
• In the 41^st minute, unraveling of Spurs after being so far up at 1-0. Their manager Postecoglou has also not been spared by the mounting pressure since he keeps getting booked for over-the-top sideline antics and raising yellow cards (Kartawinata & Maulana, 2017). Control that the Spurs had lost is now gone and they will have to get back to their sense’s straightaway.
• In the 44^th minute, it is simply staggering how Spurs are turning events out. Maddison looks fine after a near-miss, but still tries to play on. Just when the team finishes processing the lucky incident, it gets a major blow. Jackson overtakes van de Ven with the ball after it had been passed across a very long distance. Unfortunately, van de Ven pulls his hamstring which is quite a serious sports injury. It may affect the team both as far as the composition and also as far as tactics go going forward.
• In the 45+1 minute, with care, Spurs replace Maddison for Emerson Royal. As the six-minute stoppage time period stretches out into an anomalously long twelve minutes, this adjustment takes place. This allows both teams longer chances to make a difference in the first half before the halftime whistle is blown.
• In the 45+10 minute, he booked a yellow card for Sarr with a cynical foul of Jackson and thus blocked an excellent breakaway from Spurs. His challenge is deemed deliberate and intends to disrupt play and his name goes into the book. A conflict ensues between Colwill and Sarr following Jackson’s bookable offense. Sarr from Spurs gets a yellow card and this is the third disciplinary issue in a really heated game. Colwill also gets a yellow card due to his participation in the dispute. The referee, as well, is keeping up the order in the pitch and ensuring that the players abide to its laws of the game.
• In the 45+12 minute, the other case in question involves VAR assessment of whether, while air challenging with Udogie, James used his elbow. James was lifting an arm that might be reckoned high for him considering the fact he is the Chelsea captain. He’s lucky as the second referees’ decision is that it doesn’t deserve a red card, so he continues playing.

Second-half begins!!!

• In the 47^th minute, Palmer gets another chance after finding the ball in front of penalty area and he makes way for a shot. By luck, he catches sight of an opportunity and sets himself up for a blow that, however, is totally off the mark. The ball then sails far wide of the target by an appreciable distance.
• In the 55^th minute, Udogie sees red!!! In one of Chelsea’s counter attacks, they manage to get a three versus two advantages. However, Sterling’s pass to Palmer is weak, with Udogie picking it off but the ball still being in play. Udogie in the attempt to clear a ball from his box takes Sterling down in a rush of blood towards the ball by the Juventus youngster. As a result of this, the referee will be compelled to show Udogie his second yellow of the match and finally a red. The plight of spurs deteriorates further, where by a reduced number becomes ten men in a field.
• In the 56^th minute, there’s an incredible miss! From a cleverly worked free-kick, James finds space down the right flank. He manages to whip in a cross, and there's Jackson, perfectly positioned in the center, just yards from goal. It looks certain he'll score, but he directs his header downward, and somehow, it bounces up at a favorable height for Hojbjerg. The Spurs substitute reacts swiftly, miraculously hooking the ball over the crossbar to prevent a certain goal. What a let-off for Spurs!
• In the 58^th minute, Mudryk is now coming on as substitute for Fernandez, who was instrumental at making the most of the penalty which drew level this score. Mudryk might prove to be an immense value-add for Chelsea, particularly since a Spurs team now reduced on the fieldsmen will face the Blues next.
• In the 61^st minute, despite this chaos, it seems like a long way since Kulusevski’s early goal which had handed Spurs the lead. Having replaced by Skip which is one of the tactics Postecoglou will use to stabilize the team. Shoring up the defense and midfield now, with Spurs left with only nine men against the final push from Chelsea.
• In the 65^th minute, the match is completely taken over by Chelsea now as they try to use their additional space in a bid to wear out Spurs who have few men on their field. In spite of the heavy pressure, hosts remain strong and resist in a desperate struggle against the unrelenting attack wave from Chelsea.
• In the 67^th minute, there’s an astonishing stop!!! Walking on a tight rope, spurs defensive strategy is played close to their goal at risk. James sees his chance and hits a pass that flies above their heads straight to Cucurella. A sub in Chelsea makes it through one-on-one with the keeper from Spurs and tries to get it home. He turns to the right before shooting but Vicario guesses it right. Dashing out of his line to reduce the angle he makes such vital saves that thwart Chelsea’s opportunity to take the lead. The greatest moment of heroism, keeping Spurs in the match!!
• In the 70^th minute, play still goes on as Vicario stands up again. He will need to be on his toes throughout the game especially with Spurs being two men down in the field of play. Vicario might have to make more saves and save his team from being beaten if they would like to continue with the win streaks.
• In the 75^th minute, there’s a goal!!! Jackson puts Chelsea ahead!!! Eventually, Chelsea makes a breakthrough utilizing Spurs’ hazardous high backline. James makes an accurate through ball and sends Sterling sprinting toward goal. Into Spurs’ territory and then selflessly passes it off to a well-timed pass to Jackson. # However, in this instance, Jackson is emphatic as he shoots and scores, with the latter being the winning goal, thus handing Chelsea a 2-1 lead! This is a decisive moment in the match determining its outcome.
• In the 79^th minute, the goal is disallowed! The set-piece is flicked on by Bentancur, with a touch from Silva too, finding Dier at the far post. Dier meets the ball with a crisp volley that rockets into the top corner—an exceptional finish, but the offside flag is raised. The crowd's elation is cut short as the referee signals no goal. However, there's a pause in the proceedings as the VAR team takes a closer look to ensure the correct decision is made.
• In the 81^st minute, having reviewed by the VAR, the on-field decision is upheld by and stay as 2-1 in favor of Chelsea. The ball was played marginally out of bounds against Dier despite the tight margins. A break for Chelsea and a dramatic moment for Spurs who had an almost sensational leveller. After this, Chelsea gets away with a disallowed goal that restores their lead.
• In the 86^th minute, Gusto has made a mistake; faulty committed against Emerson Royal out of hurry judgment. The goalkeeper seemed positioned far away from his area of responsibility and this would have made some other players feel vulnerable as they tried to get closer to goal. Spurs caught Gusto with a hand ball just outside their box awarding a very nice place to cross in to score an important goal possibly finding an equalizer Gusto had taken the bate.
• It’s a miss again! After being wrongly by his teammate, Gusto, Bentancur got a chance for an equalizer following a freekick. Bentancur was found in good spot when the ball was precisely put by Siniša over the left flank. However, the header flies narrowly over the right post of the goal when he is just short distance from the target. This is an expensive blunder for Spurs, which is trying to catch up with the game.
• In the 90+1 minute, substitution for Chelsea: The newcomer Lesley Chimuanya Ugochukwu replaces him in the process. There is most probably an element of tactics involved seeking to revitalize the side as the match enters its twilight. Of course, Ugochukwu has some things on his mind as he hopes to contribute in helping his team win.
• In the 90+3 minute, as time comes to an end, Spurs though with less players still do not give up as they fight on. This is show of determination for them to try to get something out of the game. While in the second half of this game Chelsea are having a numerical advantage but they have not been really robust and may cause headache for their coach, Pochettino, while it is heading towards its most significant point – the end of the match. He is fully aware that football can give strange results, and especially at the end of a match.
• In the 90+4 minute, it’s a goal!!! Winning goal by Jackson for Chelsea! Dramatically, after an almost strike by Son for Spurs, Chelsea make an instant counter-attack. Finding space on the right, Gallagher, passes crisply to the middle for Jackson who does not hesitate! He strikes the ensuing shot with confidence and shoots the ball past the goalkeeper to make it 3–1. At such an advanced stage, such a goal will most likely prove to be the ‘nail on coffin’ as far as Chelsea is concerned, quashing Spur’s hopes of rallying back in the game.
• In the 90+7 minute, it’s a goal again! What a marvelous game this is turning out to be!!! The final act of this play goes to Jackson. The decision of Spurs to continue their gambling with high defensive line comes once again at their expense, and Chelsea are able to take advantage of the space behind. Riding high on confidence, Jackson plods his way through the defence line and pushes into Texas territory. He chooses to shoulder this task himself, sidestepping the goalkeeper with style and coolness, eventually finding the back of the net. The third goal in the game makes the scoreline for the match emphatic as 4-1 for Chelsea. This is great job done by Jackson engraving his name on the history of this hot game.

And that’s it! Chelsea seals the game marvelously. What a spectacle it was to watch, especially the last 20 minutes of game. We have witnessed magic happening today on the field. We bet, this was memorable for you to watch and cherish in the upcoming years. Stay tuned for more!