Derby day
Tottenham welcomed Chelsea to their beautiful new Stadium for another installment of the London derby. Nuno Espirito Santo and Tottenham won their first three games before Crystal Palace brought them to a 3-0 halt. The current Premier League manager of the month (Nuno) was Thomas Tuchel’s first opposition in the English Premier League. Nuno brought back Tanguy Ndombele for his first start of the season. That was his big move.
The UEFA Champions League winners have been slow and steady out of the block, limping to wins. They have been sturdy though. The only blot on Chelsea’s record was a penalty against Liverpool with their defense giving away little and Edouard Mendy remaining impenetrable. The Senegalese picked up an injury and was not in the squad. Kepa Arrizabalaga took his place.
There was a tribute to Tottenham legend and former Chelsea striker Jimmy Greaves who died in the early hours of the day. The World Cup-winning striker was 81.
First Half
Spurs started aggressively engaging with a high press. They pinned Chelsea back. Tottenham did not create many chances, and a wall-blocked free-kick from Harry Kane was all they had to show for it. Chelsea had one dangerous counter, and after a neat one-two with Romelu Lukaku, Mason Mount should have put Chelsea ahead. Emerson Royal blocked his effort.
On 20, Sergio Reguilon broke forward but his cross was intercepted by Antonio Rudiger. 30 minutes in, and despite an intense showing, it was all bark and no bite. On 32, after some neat Spurs interplay, Giovanni Lo Celso slipped Heung-Min Son through, but a combination of Marcos Alonso and Kepa Arrizabalaga smothered the chance.
At the interval, Tottenham 0-0 Chelsea
Second Half
Tuchel brought on N’golo Kante for a lethargic Mason Mount as Chelsea went 532. Thiago Silva launched a glorious ball, and Alonso stung Hugo Lloris’ gloves. A succession of Chelsea pressure and corners and Thiago Silva headed in an Alonso corner on 50. Tottenham 0-1 Chelsea.
After a beautiful Chelsea interplay, Azpilicueta set up a chance for Alonso to score, but Eric Dier put in a terrific block to deny him. Minutes later, he made another block but this time, it took a dangerous deflection and trickled past Lloris. The shot came from N’golo Kante. Tottenham 0-2 Chelsea.
The blues had taken control of the game and Spurs could not cope. Timo Werner came on for Kai Havertz and had two opportunities to score. The second one resulted in one of the funniest pinball situations you’ll ever see in front of the goal.
The west Londoners were in control of the game, allowing Alonso, Azpi, Werner, and Lukaku to create havoc. They stamped their authority on the game in the final minutes as Werner sent a cross into the box. It was behind everyone except for Antonio Rudiger. The defender lashed a shot home. Tottenham 0-3 Chelsea. It ended that way.
The match was equal in the first half with Tottenham edging it but, Tuchel’s change swung the tie back to the blues. He removed Mount for Kante, and Chelsea caught fire. The Frenchman even scored the second goal. Top of the league, and they are yet to concede a goal from open play this season.
