Second-half Spurs comeback dents Chelsea's title challenge
Wednesday, 19 Mar 2008 23:00
Keane sealed Spurs' comeback late in the game
Tottenham Hotspur came back from 3-1 behind in the second half to salvage a 4-4 draw against
Chelsea at White Hart Lane.
Robbie Keane got the final goal of the game in the 88th minute to deny Chelsea a vital away win and cap a superb Spurs fightback.
The result was a heavy blow to the Blues' title aspirations. They are now five points behind
Manchester United and still trail
Arsenal by two points.
Avram Grant's side had looked to be on their way to victory but goals by Tom Huddlestone and Robbie Keane gave Spurs a point.
Juande Ramos fielded the exact same side that had beaten the Blues in the Carling Cup final last month but they failed to show the same determination and creativity during the first half.
Didier Drogba gave the Blues the lead after just three minutes. He drove a free-kick into the wall but Claude Makelele reacted quickly to feed John Terry who in turn crossed for Drogba to head home.
But Spurs struck back ten minutes later with their first meaningful attack of the game. Jermaine Jenas found Jonathan Woodgate and the defender beat Carlo Cudicini from close range.
Despite Spurs' goal Chelsea were still dominating possession and Michael Essien restored their lead midway through the first half.
The game was given an extra spark just before the break when Ashley Cole was lucky not be sent off for a high challenge on Spurs full-back Alan Hutton. Thankfully the half-time whistle prevented tempers from escalating further.
Chelsea continued to impress at the start of the second period and extended their advantage thanks to Joe Cole who danced past Pascal Chimbonda and slotted the ball past Paul Robinson.
The home side had failed to create much in the final third but were able to take advantage of another set piece for Dimitar Berbatov to score with a header.
Spurs seized the opportunity to push for an equaliser by replacing Ledley King with Darren Bent. That change gave them their best spell of possession and they were on level terms when substitute Huddlestone fired home a powerful drive from the edge of the box.
However Spurs were not level for long and Chelsea restored their lead when the impressive Joe Cole again found it easy to get past Chimbonda and fire past Robinson.
But Spurs refused to lie down and Keane sealed a dramatic comeback with a shot that curled past Cudicini. Berbatov nearly won the game for the home side in the dying moments but the Italian keeper made a superb save to deny him.
Having come from behind Spurs were the more satisfied side at the final whistle while the Blues will hope to bounce back against the Gunners on Sunday.