
Audio By Carbonatix
Cole Palmer's ice-cool 'Panenka' penalty sealed Chelsea's impressive comeback as they came from two goals behind to win at Tottenham.
Strikes from Jadon Sancho and Enzo Fernandez and two spot-kicks from Palmer sank Spurs, who made a fast start but then fell apart and suffered a defeat that adds to the recent agony for under-fire manager Ange Postecoglou.
Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski had put Tottenham 2-0 up in 11 minutes, but by the time Son Heung-min added their third in stoppage time the game had slipped away from them.
Chelsea's win moves them to just four points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool, whose game at Everton on Saturday was postponed because of Storm Darragh.
Spurs dominated the early proceedings in a breathless start at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and Solanke poked the opener inside five minutes after Brennan Johnson capitalised on a slip from Marc Cucurella.
Cucurella slipped again six minutes later to allow Kulusevski to drive at Chelsea's defence and finish inside Robert Sanchez's near post.
That was the cue for Cucurella to change his boots, having struggled to stay on his feet at great cost to his team.
Momentum gradually began to shift, and Chelsea winger Sancho dribbled past Pedro Porro and Radu Dragusin before curling a terrific low shot in off the right post.
The comeback was under way, but Chelsea had an escape when Pape Matar Sarr headed against the bar from a corner.
Chelsea's second-half surge came amid a spate of injuries for Tottenham. They lost key defenders Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven - who both returned for this important game but could not last the distance - and winger Johnson.
Palmer profited as the Spurs defence hopelessly lost their focus. The England forward converted his first penalty just after the hour as Yves Bissouma brought down Moises Caicedo with a wild lunge, and the second was won by Palmer when Sarr needlessly shoved him over.
Palmer's cheeky finish from that second spot-kick rubbed salt into Spurs wounds.
Between the two penalties, Fernandez cracked in a thumping third Chelsea goal after Palmer's effort was blocked. It all meant that Son's late goal from a corner routine was trifling consolation.
Inevitably, the question will be asked about whether Postecoglou was right to risk Van de Ven and Romero, and with this defeat following on from the midweek loss at Bournemouth there will be growing focus on the Australian boss.
Spurs sit 11th, while second-placed Chelsea march on into a title race, Palmer leading the way. On a day when he was pelted with objects thrown at him from the home end, Palmer made sure he and the visitors had the last laugh.
Latest Stories
-
Ghanaians should accept Queiroz as a defensive coach – Kojo Addae-Mensah
4 minutes -
Ghana introduces New Basic School Curriculum with Coding, AI and Local Language focus
8 minutes -
Asamoah Gyan visits John Laryea ahead of August 15 fight against Adrian Robledo Maximiliano
8 minutes -
Mid-Year Budget must outline plan to sustain economic gains – Prof Bokpin
9 minutes -
‘Dangerous and baseless’ – Stephen Amoah slams Global InfoAnalytics MPs performance poll
9 minutes -
Further infant remains uncovered at former mother-and-baby home
24 minutes -
When thousands can’t opt out: The broken system behind national service cloth deductions
25 minutes -
Meet 2026 jury for Blackstar International Film Festival
28 minutes -
Mahama calls on Africa to manufacture its own medicines to end import dependence
31 minutes -
Carlos Queiroz could join CAF review after Ghana’s World Cup campaign
37 minutes -
Mahama, WHO chief call for stronger pharmaceutical production to reduce Africa’s health dependence
39 minutes -
Fondation Ahobah feeds more than 200 children, donates supplies to Kasoa orphanage
41 minutes -
Sammy Crabbe urges NPP unity as Chairman Wontumi faces 20-year jail term
54 minutes -
Asante Kotoko set title target for Tinkler ahead of new GPL season
57 minutes -
Godfred Dame argues Hanan Abdul-Wahab’s Buffer Stock charge sheet is defective, seeks dismissal
1 hour