Chelsea moved back into the Premier League top four with a narrow 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur. The victory also marked another painful milestone for Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou. He became the first Tottenham manager to lose his first four Premier League games against Chelsea.
Early Pressure from Chelsea
Chelsea nearly took the lead in the opening minute. Trevoh Chalobah played a dangerous ball towards Nicolas Jackson. A deflection from Micky van de Ven almost turned into an own goal, but the ball hit the post and bounced away.
Spurs looked shaky at the back. Marc Cucurella found Malo Gusto with a precise pass, but Gusto’s shot hit the side netting. Moments later, Jackson fired over the bar after finding himself completely unmarked in the penalty area.
Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario also looked nervous. He was forced into a strong save to deny Jadon Sancho, who connected well with a cross from Pedro Neto.
Scoreless First Half
Despite Chelsea dominating the early stages, neither side managed to score before the break. Tottenham showed little threat going forward, while Chelsea lacked the final touch in front of the goal.
Enzo Fernández Breaks the Deadlock
Chelsea’s breakthrough came just five minutes into the second half. Cole Palmer delivered a perfect cross, and Enzo Fernández rose highest to head the ball into the net. It was a deserved lead for the Blues, who had been the better side.
Soon after, Moisés Caicedo thought he had doubled the lead. His stunning volley beat Vicario, but VAR ruled the goal out for offside in the build-up. It was a close call that left the Spurs breathing a sigh of relief.
VAR Drama and Late Spurs Chances
Tottenham believed they had equalized through Pape Matar Sarr. His low strike slipped under Chelsea keeper Robert Sánchez. However, VAR intervened again, this time spotting a foul by Sarr on Caicedo in the build-up. The goal was disallowed.
Despite a late push, Tottenham offered little in attack. Their best chance came in the dying minutes when Son Heung-min slid in to meet a cross from Brennan Johnson. But Sánchez was alert and made a crucial save to protect Chelsea’s lead.
Chelsea’s Dominance Over Spurs Continues
This wasn’t a classic London derby, but Chelsea won’t mind. They’ve beaten Spurs in 10 of their last 13 Premier League meetings. The result highlights their continued dominance in this fixture.
The defeat adds to Spurs’ away woes. It was their ninth loss on the road this season. Only Leicester City (11) and Southampton (12) have worse records away from home. Tottenham now sits 14th in the league, far from the form their fans hoped for.
Key Stats:
- Chelsea move up to 4th place.
- Spurs suffer their 9th away defeat this season.
- Enzo Fernández scores the winning goal.
- Postecoglou becomes the first Spurs boss to lose his first 4 PL matches against Chelsea.
