Cole Palmer seals stunning Chelsea comeback
Tottenham Hotspur 3 - 4 Chelsea
Cole Palmer’s cool-headed 'Panenka' penalty capped off a stunning Chelsea comeback, overturning a two-goal deficit to secure victory against Tottenham.
Jadon Sancho and Enzo Fernandez both found the net, while Palmer added two expertly taken penalties to sink Spurs, who had started brightly but crumbled under pressure. The result heaps further misery on Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou, who is facing increasing scrutiny.
Tottenham surged ahead early, with Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski scoring within the first 11 minutes. However, despite Son Heung-min adding a late third in stoppage time, Spurs let the game slip from their grasp.
Chelsea's triumph moves them within four points of Premier League leaders Liverpool, who saw their game against Everton postponed due to Storm Darragh.
Premier League: 2024/2025 season
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A closer look at what happened
Spurs dominated the opening stages at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Solanke prodded in the opener just five minutes in, capitalising on Marc Cucurella’s slip, and six minutes later, Kulusevski exploited another Cucurella error to double the lead with a sharp finish past Robert Sanchez.
Cucurella’s early struggles even saw him change his boots after twice losing his footing at crucial moments. Gradually, Chelsea found their rhythm, and Sancho provided the spark, weaving past Pedro Porro and Radu Dragusin before firing a superb low shot in off the post.
Tottenham almost extended their lead before the break, with Pape Matar Sarr heading against the bar, but Chelsea’s momentum grew after half-time, aided by Spurs’ mounting injury woes. Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven, both risked for this pivotal match, were forced off, as was winger Brennan Johnson.
Chelsea took full advantage of Spurs’ disarray. Palmer slotted his first penalty after Yves Bissouma recklessly brought down Moises Caicedo, and his second came following a needless shove by Sarr. Palmer’s audacious 'Panenka' from the spot rubbed salt into the wound.
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In between Palmer's penalties, Fernandez smashed home a brilliant third after a blocked shot from Palmer, putting Chelsea firmly in control. Son’s late goal from a corner was little more than a consolation.
Postecoglou’s decision to gamble on the fitness of key players like Romero and Van de Ven will undoubtedly raise eyebrows, especially with this loss following their midweek defeat at Bournemouth.
Tottenham now languish in 11th place, while Chelsea, led by the outstanding Palmer, remain firmly in the title race.
Chelsea fans delighted
Lewis W from Greater Manchester, a Chelsea fan, said: "We have more character this season. The players didn't panic going 2-0 down early in the game and let their football do the talking. The manager is bringing out the best in the team."
Darren, another Chelsea fan, was also delighted with the performance. He added: "Cole Palmer is the best player in the league at the moment. Enzo's substitutions at halftime were also excellent; I had my doubts about him, but I'm pleased he's proving me wrong."
Jacob was in the away end. He also gave his perspective on Chelsea's win and performance. He said: "We played like title contenders against Spurs. Another sensational display. I'm very excited about how this season could develop."
