Flashback: 3 Exciting Encounters Between Chelsea And Tottenham Hotspur In Recent Times

Chelsea hosting Tottenham Hotspur will definitely be the high octane match of Game week 13. Both the teams have been brilliant this season, with one on a magnificent 6-match winning streak and another yet to lose a game in the league.

Although a win for Tottenham won’t take them above Chelsea as they are separated by 4 points, this top table clash will surely be responsible for major movements for the rest of the three teams between them. Chelsea and Tottenham have produced some breath-taking face-offs in the recent past. Let us take a look at 3 occasions when the two produced some humdingers.

Tottenham Hotspur vs Chelsea (2008) 4-4

The teams were miles apart in the points table then with Chelsea challenging for the title in the 3^rd position and Tottenham in the 11^th position, but that didn’t stop the teams from giving everything they had till the final second. Didier Drogba had headed home just in the 3^rd minute to give Chelsea the lead early in the match, but it was cancelled by Jonathan Woodgate in the 12^th minute with another header.

Chelsea were quick to triple the lead with Michael Essien putting a clever finish after 21 minutes and Joe Cole adding another just after the second half. It looked like the match was decided. But Dimitar Berbatov’s header and a superb Tom Huddlestone strike put Spurs level once more, making it 3-3 in 75^th minute, readying the crowd for a classic final quarter.

Joe Cole’s second in the 80^th minute had almost robbed the Spurs fans of all hopes, but an out of the world curler from Robbie Keane two minutes from time sealed the result at the end.

Tottenham Hotspur vs Chelsea (2012) 2-4

Chelsea were league leaders in this match when they visited White Hart Lane. The biggest highlight of the match was the Blues going to face their former manager Andre Villas-Boas. The then Tottenham boss Villas-Boas was facing Chelsea for the first time since he was sacked after only nine months in charge. John Terry was suspended for the match after racially abusing QPR’s Anton Ferdinand.

Chelsea led at half-time through a brilliant volley by Gary Cahill. But Spurs did what they always do against Chelsea. They reversed fortunes dramatically at the start of the second half with two quick goals from William Gallas and Jermain Defoe.

Destiny, however, had other plans that day and a brilliant brace by Juan Mata in the space of three minutes put Chelsea in the lead once again. And Chelsea didn’t make any mistake this time. They killed the game with another Daniel Sturridge’s goal. Spurs had missed the services of Gareth Bale hugely that game.

Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea (2015) 5-3

It was during Chelsea’s league winning season in 2015. The Blues were a formidable force to reckon with a pretty much flawless run of games. They were in the number 1 position visiting White Hart Lane to play the Spurs who were 5^th.

This was Tottenham’s first Premier League win against Chelsea since April 2010. The goal fest was started by Diego Costa in the 18^th minute, which was cancelled by Harry Kane in the 30^th minute. Danny Rose took the lead in the 44^th minute right on the verge of half-time and Andros Townsend scored from the spot just as the game started after halftime. Eden Hazard made it 3-2 in the 67^th minute with a sublime strike.

Harry Kane scored another in the 52^nd minute, diminishing any hope for Chelsea. The game was pretty much over by then and if there was any doubt, it was cleared by Nacer Chadli in the 78^th minute. Chelsea’s third goal by John Terry in the 88^th minute was a mere consolation in the end.