Late Spurs equaliser denies tired Chelsea

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Chelsea 2 Tottenham 2

Substitute Gylfi Sigurdsson netted an 80th-minute equaliser to deny Chelsea a victory that would have effectively sealed their Champions League place.

The Blues, looking to confirm their top-four finish, went ahead through Oscar’s early goal before being pegged back by Emmanuel Adebayor’s stunning equaliser.

They responded in fine style, but just as Ramires’ first-time strike looked like securing yet another triumph over Tottenham, Sigurdsson scored out of nothing.

It kept fifth-placed Spurs very much still in a three-horse race for the two remaining Champions League spots – a race which also includes Arsenal, who stay fourth.

Oscar of Chelsea
Oscar gave Chelsea an early lead.

Oscar, who was outstanding, nodded in the opener, applying the finishing touch after Juan Mata’s 10th-minute corner had been met by Gary Cahill’s header.

Chelsea, with Fernando Torres and the fit-again Eden Hazard back in the starting line-up and Frank Lampard on the bench, were in control before Adebayor levelled on 25 minutes.

Cahill allowed the striker to amble his way towards the edge of the penalty area and was punished when Adebayor found the top corner of the net with a fantastic strike.

Ramires replied for the home side six minutes before the break.

Torres did well on the right and picked out the Brazilian, who fired beyond keeper Hugo Lloris.

Chelsea continued to dominate after the break and Cesar Azpilicueta went close before Hazard shot wastefully over after being set up by a lovely pass from Oscar.

Spurs, without a win at Stamford Bridge for 23 years, rarely looked like finding a way back into the match.

However, as their opponents tired in the closing stages, they came up with another equaliser.

This time Adebayor was the creator, cleverly back-heeling the ball off to Sigurdsson, whose low shot rescued a point.

Chelsea: Cech, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Ivanovic, Cole, Ramires, Luiz, Oscar (Benayoun 84), Mata, Hazard (Moses 73), Torres.
Subs not used: Turnbull, Lampard, Terry, Ba, Ake.

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