Soccer-Chelsea beat Spurs 2-0 to keep dwindling title hopes alive

By William Schomberg

LONDON (Reuters) – Chelsea stored alive their distant Premier League title probabilities with a 2-0 win over London rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, set on their means by an beautiful strike from Hakim Ziyech which was shortly adopted up by a Thiago Silva header.

Ziyech scored among the best targets of the season within the forty seventh minute when he acquired the ball on fringe of the field after a surging run by Callum Hudson-Odoi, and the Moroccan’s curling, dipping shot dropped into the highest nook with Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris rooted to the spot.

It was the second objective in two video games for Ziyech and earned him the reward of coach Thomas Tuchel who has demanded extra from the previous Ajax winger.

“I had the sensation it was a bit too excessive however it dropped on the proper second,” the German informed Sky Sports activities concerning the objective. “It was an excellent objective. His method was good.”

The Blues sealed their first league win of 2022 eight minutes later when Silva, regardless of being sandwiched between two Spurs defenders, headed residence a free kick floated into the field by Mason Mount.

Spurs, beforehand unbeaten in 9 league video games underneath former Chelsea coach Antonio Conte, thought that they had taken the lead within the first half when Harry Kane put the ball within the web, however referee Paul Tierney dominated the England striker pushed Silva off the ball earlier than turning and firing it previous Kepa Arrizabalaga.

“ very effectively I don’t prefer to touch upon the referees’ choices however in England it was very unusual to disallow this objective,” Conte informed BBC radio. “But when the referee has seen it on this means, we have now to just accept.”

Tuchel admitted that he had been shocked when the objective was disallowed.

The win – Chelsea’ fourth this season over Spurs, together with a two-legged league cup semi-final this month – left the Blues in third place on 47 factors, 10 factors behind leaders Manchester Metropolis who’ve performed a sport fewer, and one level behind second-placed Liverpool who’ve two video games in hand over the Blues.

Spurs – who’ve now received solely as soon as at Stamford Bridge in 32 league video games – are seventh on 36 factors though they’ve performed 4 fewer video games than Chelsea.

(Reporting by William Schomberg; Enhancing by Toby Davis)