Tottenham left Stamford Bridge with the rain on their shoulders and a 2-0 win in their pockets, ending a long wait for success at Chelsea that had stretched back to 2018. For Xabi Alonso’s side, it was a sharp halt after two successive victories: a goalkeeper’s mistake, a late red card for Cole Palmer and Mathys Tel’s fine finish saw a close London derby slip away.
In the dressing room
Chelsea were without the injured Emiliano Martínez, with Penders taking his place in goal, while João Pedro was ruled out shortly before kick-off. Alonso used Rogers as his central attacking reference instead.
Tottenham, managed by Roberto De Zerbi, arrived in need of a result and gradually grew into a match played at a fierce pace in heavy rain. Chelsea did not dominate the ball but made the earlier threat, Palmer bending an effort towards goal that Kinsky pushed away with an excellent save.
The visitors then began to find room between Chelsea’s lines. Tel ran down the left before Kudus sent a shot narrowly wide, while Robertson’s forward burst created another opening. His cut-back found Marmoush, whose effort was stopped by Penders. The Chelsea keeper also denied Tel in a one-on-one, although that move was later ruled offside.
Kinsky had his own nervous moment after a poor pass, but recovered in time to prevent Henderson scoring from close range. He was called upon again soon afterwards when Rogers threatened. There were no goals before the interval, but neither side had been short of intent.
One error changes the derby
Tottenham lost Maddison early in the second half, Gallagher coming on in his place, and the disruption initially appeared to favour Chelsea. Kinsky made another important intervention to turn away a fairly central Pedro Neto shot.
Alonso looked to freshen his forward line by sending on Palestra and Estevao. The latter made an immediate impression, firing into the side netting after being picked out by Caicedo.
Yet Chelsea’s best spell ended with the moment that decided the contest. From a Tottenham corner, Penders struggled under pressure from Van Hecke and punched the ball into his own net. It was a costly lapse from the Belgian, who had made several good stops before being undone in the air.
The task became still steeper when Palmer collected a second yellow card for a stamp. His first booking had followed a clash with Matheus, and Chelsea were reduced to 10 men with around 10 minutes remaining.
Tottenham did not settle for protecting their advantage. Tel carried the ball forward with purpose in the 87th minute before driving a precise shot inside the post, sealing a deserved second consecutive victory for Spurs.
A useful Tottenham turn
The result confirmed Tottenham’s recent improvement and gave them the sort of away win that can alter the mood around a side looking upwards. They had gone 10 visits to Stamford Bridge without victory, and had not won there since 2018.
Chelsea, meanwhile, were left unable to make ground on the league leaders. The week ahead will bring an uncomfortable review of Penders’ error, Palmer’s dismissal and an attack that created enough before failing to take the moments that mattered.
