The race for the final two Champions League places next season from the Premier League will go down to the final games of the season after substitute Gylfi Sigurdsson scored an 80th-minute equaliser to snatch a 2-2 draw for Tottenham Hotspur at Chelsea.
With two games to play the table looks like this:
- 3: Chelsea 69 pts
- 4: Arsenal 67 pts
- 5: Tottenham Hotspur 66 pts
Chelsea’s last games are Aston Villa away and Everton at home. Arsenal play Wigan at home and Newcastle away while Spurs have Stoke away and Sunderland at home. Unless they collapse, Chelsea will be in the Champions League next season and it looks like the North East will determine which North London club will join them.
Chelsea, in third, lead fourth-place Arsenal by two points, with Spurs just a point further back in fifth.
Chelsea stated the game well and went ahead after 10 minutes when Mata’s corner was headed on by Gary Cahill and OScar got ahead of Scott Parker to head home from close range.
Tottenham were dismal for the opening 25 minutes but then a piece of magic from Emmanuel Adebayor tied things up. Adebayor picked the ball up in his own half and as Cahill kept backing off and backing off, Adebayor shaped a brilliant shot into the top-right corner from 25 yards.
The second half began much the same way. Mata, Oscar and Hazard dominated the midfield and it was no surprise when Chelsea went ahead. Fernando Torres’ pass from wide on the right sent in Ramires and he shot past Hugo Lloris from about 12 yards out.
With the score 2-1 and Chelsea on the ascendency I expected them to go on and win the game. But they could not get that all important third goal. Hazard shot over from barely six yards after cutting inside Kyle Walker, before Ramires slipped right after Mata played him in.
But Chelsea could not hold onto the lead and with 10 minutes remaining, Adebayor’s audacious flick found Sigurdsson and he shot past Petr Cech toeven things up.
