Football | Match Report | Spurs vs Chelsea
Chelsea eased past Spurs in the Premier League yesterday evening as Joao Pedro’s first-half strike sealed the 0-1 victory for the visitors.
The result came after the two sides faced contrasting results in the League Cup earlier in the week. Chelsea edged past Wolves in a 3-4 victory at Molineux – a close scare which almost saw the visitors fall from a three-goal lead.
Spurs, however, did not see as much joy during their visit to the northeast as they lost 2-0 to Newcastle at St James’ Park.
The Spotlights Shone Stars
Games between Spurs and Chelsea have long been a spectacle – known for their rageful red cards, passionate crowds, and goals galore – a matchup often dominated by the Blues, but this game was slightly different.
Chelsea’s midfield was a different class – Moises Caicedo acted as the fireman, snuffing out the dangers in defence; Enzo Fernandez was the artist pinging the passes that no one else saw; and Reece James was the brute using his strength to break those that came his way. The balance was immense, and they suffocated Spurs.
Thomas Frank’s Team Froze
They couldn’t do anything; Thomas Frank’s men were stunned; Enzo Maresa built an impassable wall that the ball simply couldn’t roll past. Spurs struggled with the basics – they were toothless in attack and dodgy in defence.
That’s where the game’s only goal came from – Moises Caicedo’s tenacity forced the ball off of Micky van de Ven. He then cruised into the Spurs box and released it to Joao Pedro – in acres of space – who slotted it into the top left corner of Vicario’s net.
34 minutes played. 0-1, Chelsea.
The visitors found themselves in cruise control for much of the remaining hour. Tottenham couldn’t click into gear; they seemed devoid of confidence and out of ideas already. It was simple for the boys in blue as the game flowed towards the break.
A Second Half to Forget
The second half in this game was about as forgettable as you could think of – nothing of real note happened. Chelsea were triumphant, missing chances but never suffering any consequences for their inability to extend the lead.
Spurs went from toothless to toxic; the fans grew tired of the backwards and sideways passes – and tensions were clearly rising.
The highlight of the half for Spurs was that they remained only one goal down. Chelsea, on the other hand, would have been relieved to keep eleven men on the pitch, as a rash challenge from Enzo Fernandez sparked debate amongst those in the stadium – however, a yellow card was sufficient according to referee Jarred Gillett.
Full-Time Frenzy
Upon the full-time whistle, fans highlighted their displeasure with the team’s performance – no big chances created or even shots on target for the hosts.
The players were clearly dissatisfied, while the Tottenham boss appeared to be snubbed by Djed Spence and van de Ven as they sulked their way towards the tunnel.
The two defeats this week are games that the Tottenham manager will want to put behind him. This run of form cannot continue for Thomas Frank’s side. Cracks are beginning to show under his leadership, and it’s clear that the Spurs boss’s style needs to adapt. What exactly needs to change? Well, that’s something for him to decide upon.
