Chelsea secured a crucial 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in a heated London derby on Thursday, with goals from Trevoh Chalobah and Nicolas Jackson proving to be the difference.
Chalobah opened the scoring in the 24th minute with a pinpoint header from a Conor Gallagher free kick, leaving Spurs goalkeeper scrambling as the ball nestled into the top corner. Despite Tottenham’s efforts to stay in the game, with defender Micky van de Ven making crucial tackles and clearances, Chelsea continued to dominate the first half.
The second half saw Tottenham come out with renewed energy, but they were unable to break through Chelsea’s defense. Jackson sealed the win for Chelsea in the 72nd minute with another header, this time off a free kick from Cole Palmer that hit the bar.
The victory lifted Chelsea to eighth place in the Premier League table, while dealing a blow to Tottenham’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League next season. Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou expressed his disappointment with the team’s performance, taking full responsibility for the defeat.
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino, a former Tottenham coach, praised his team’s professionalism and set-piece execution. He emphasized the importance of the win in their push for a Europa League spot after a challenging season.
The win adds to Chelsea’s dominance over Tottenham in recent meetings, with Spurs only managing one win in their last 10 encounters. The result leaves Tottenham seven points adrift of the top four, with a tough road ahead in their quest for European qualification.