LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 02: Son Heung-Min of Tottenham Hotspur scores his team’s second goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on May 02, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Spurs can’t hold two-goal lead at Chelsea; Leicester City claims Premier League title

Posted by on May 2, 2016 17:27

Tottenham Hotspur had to do something Monday it hadn’t done in 26 years — win at Stamford Bridge — to prevent Leicester City from locking up this season’s Premier League title.

Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min staked Spurs to a 2-0 lead in the first half, but second-half strikes from Cheslea’s Gary Cahill and Eden Hazard forged a 2-2 draw — a result that clinches the Premier League title for Leicester City.

It is the first top-flight title for the Foxes, a 5,000-to-1 pick to win this year’s crown, in the club’s 132-year history.

Tottenham remains winless on that ground since Gary Lineker’s goal pushed them to a win on Feb. 10, 1990.

It was a testy affair, as Tottenham piled up a staggering nine yellow cards in the match, while Chelsea picked up three.

“I think it meant so much to both sides tonight,” Chelsea defender John Terry said. “Obviously, they’re fighting for the title and the emotion of a London derby. We haven’t lost (here) in 26 years. It was always going to boil over. Maybe it got out of hand a couple of times there.

“Credit to Leicester. They’ve been superb.”

Kane got the scoring started for Spurs in the 35th minute after a brilliant feed from Eric Lamela:

The goal was Kane’s 25th in league play this season, pushing his lead in the Golden Boot standings to two over Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero.

Things went from bad to worse for Chelsea as the first half drew to a close as Son Heung-Min doubled the visitors’ lead just before the halftime whistle after a Chelsea turnover:

https://twitter.com/EnglishLeagueBR/status/727224399586320384

The two teams came out a bit flat after halftime, but the home side pulled a goal back in the 58th minute when Gary Cahill found the back of the net off a corner kick:

That goal upped the intensity level for Chelsea, and the Blues started pressing the visitors all over the park.

In the 83rd minute, Chelsea found an equalizer in the form of Hazard, who came on as a second-half substitute.

His bending finish sent the Stamford Bridge crowd — not to mention Leicester City supporters and most neutrals — into delirium.

“It’s always good to score,” Hazard said. “This game was very important for us, all the fans and all the Chelsea supporters. We were 2-nil down, but we scored two back. We deserved a draw today.”

For Tottenham, it was a missed opportunity to keep the title race alive. For Chelsea, it was bittersweet to pass the torch as champions.

But for Leicester City, it was the start of a celebration that will live forever in the hearts and minds of its supporters:

About Randy Capps

South Carolina native, Fulham apologist, writer and sports fanatic.

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