Chelsea secured a crucial 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge, bolstering their pursuit of European football while dealing a significant blow to their London rivals’ Champions League aspirations for next season.
Trevoh Chalobah broke the deadlock midway through the first half, rising to meet Conor Gallagher’s free-kick with a powerful header. Despite a lengthy VAR review for a possible foul by Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella in the build-up, the goal stood.
Those pitchside angles. 😮💨#CFC | #CheTot pic.twitter.com/ahYsF40Gfo
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) May 2, 2024
Tottenham struggled to create opportunities, with Cristian Romero squandering their best chance with a headed effort wide of the mark. Chelsea extended their lead in the 71st minute, as Cole Palmer’s free-kick rattled the crossbar and Nicolas Jackson nodded in the rebound.
The victory propelled Chelsea into eighth place, just two points behind seventh-placed Newcastle, keeping their hopes of European qualification alive. Meanwhile, Tottenham finds themselves seven points adrift of fourth-placed Aston Villa, with their Champions League dreams fading.
Jackson’s 11th #PL goal! 👊🔥#CFC | #CheTot pic.twitter.com/f9y24pIyao
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) May 3, 2024
Chelsea’s dominance was evident throughout the match, with Jackson and Gallagher posing constant threats to the Spurs defense. Despite injuries sidelining numerous key players, Chelsea’s depth and resilience shone through.
In contrast, Tottenham’s struggles continued, with manager Ange Postecoglou making several changes in a bid to ignite his team’s performance. However, their lackluster display and defensive frailties left them empty-handed once again.
With just two clean sheets in their last 25 Premier League games and a string of disappointing results, Tottenham’s hopes of securing a top-four finish are dwindling. As the season draws to a close, they face an uphill battle to salvage their Champions League aspirations.