Chelsea secured a vital 1-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on Thursday, with Enzo Fernández’s second-half header proving decisive.
The win propels Chelsea back into fourth place in the Premier League, bolstering their aspirations for Champions League qualification next season.
The match’s only goal came in the 50th minute when Cole Palmer, returning from injury, delivered a precise cross that found Fernández unmarked in the box.
The Argentine midfielder made no mistake, heading the ball past Spurs’ goalkeeper, Guglielmo Vicario.
Chelsea appeared to double their lead shortly after when Moisés Caicedo volleyed the ball into the net. However, the goal was disallowed following a VAR review, which determined an offside in the buildup.
Tottenham also had a goal chalked off; substitute Pape Matar Sarr’s effort was ruled out due to a foul in the lead-up play.
The match was marked by moments of tension and physicality. Notably, a scuffle just before halftime resulted in yellow cards for Cristian Romero and Trevoh Chalobah.
Additionally, a contentious challenge from Pape Sarr added to the heated atmosphere. Despite these incidents, Chelsea maintained composure, with goalkeeper Robert Sánchez making crucial saves, including a late stop to deny Son Heung-min an equalizer.
This defeat deepens Tottenham’s struggles, leaving them in 14th place and intensifying pressure on manager Ange Postecoglou.
Chelsea’s victory not only strengthens their position in the race for European spots but also extends their impressive home record against Tottenham. The Blues will look to build on this momentum in their upcoming fixtures.
