Tottenham beat Chelsea in epic derby

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Tottenham 5 Chelsea 3

Chelsea were beaten in an eight-goal epic at White Hart Lane and Manchester City are now level with them at the top of the Premier League. 

Diego Costa put the Blues in front midway through the first half but it was cancelled out by Harry Kane’s superb equaliser.

Tottenham then scored twice in two minutes before the break, through Danny Rose and an Andros Townsend penalty, to put them in command at half-time.

In a see-saw second half, livewire Kane made it 4-1 with another well-taken finish, Eden Hazard pulled one back, but Nacer Chadli killed off any lingering hope of a comeback 12 minutes from time.

John Terry converted a Hazard cross late on, but that will be of slim comfort to boss Jose Mourinho after a stunning result.

It had all begun so well for the visitors. Costa put them ahead in the 19th minute, turning in Oscar’s shot, which came after Hazard had hit the post.

That was, though, as good as it got for the Blues. Kane equalised on the half-hour mark, holding off the challenge of Oscar and firing in a low shot beyond Courtois.

Chelsea imploded in the dying minutes of the first half. Their defence went to sleep as Christian Eriksen fed Chadli, and though he hit the upright, Rose netted the rebound.

The impish Kane then drew a foul from Gary Cahill and Townsend converted the penalty.

After the break, Hazard sent a fierce shot just over but Spurs increased their lead on 52 minutes when Kane rolled away from Nemanja Matic and threaded a low shot between Terry’s legs and across Courtois.

On the hour mark, Hazard’s brilliance pulled it back to 4-2. The Belgian won the ball on halfway and exchanged passes with Cesc Fabregas before exposing an opening in the Spurs defence to slot past the helpless Hugo Lloris.

Chadli put the icing on an impressive Tottenham display when his shot took a slight deflection off Terry on its way past Courtois.

But, although Terry had the last word when he popped up at the far post to stab home Hazard’s centre, his side trooped off despondent after a sobering defeat.

Chelsea: Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Matic, Fabregas; Willian (Salah 72), Oscar (Ramires 46), Hazard; Costa.
Subs not used: Cech, Zouma, Mikel, Remy, Drogba.

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