Bridge of sighs for Spurs as Leicester complete impossible dream

Chelsea 2 Tottenham 2: Leicester’s fairytale is finally complete and although Claudio Ranieri’s men were not on the pitch, it could hardly have been achieved in more dramatic, controversial or exciting fashion as Eden Hazard’s goal ended Tottenham’s challenge in a ferocious and pulsating match at Stamford Bridge.

Spurs, 2-0 up at half-time through goals from Harry Kane and Heung Min Song, and ready to take extend the title race for one last week, were eventually pegged back to 2-2 in a game that packed an entire season’s drama into 90 minutes.

How on earth it ended with 22 men on the pitch only referee Mark Clattenburg knows — Tottenham had nine players booked — and The FA’s disciplinary board could spend the next week studying the video so much went on, not least an eye-gouge by Mousa Dembele on Diego Costa and a stamp on Cesc Fabregas’ hand by Erik Lamela.

But what it means is that Leicester are champions – words that nobody in football ever thought they would read.

Gary Lineker, who began his career at Leicester, described it as “the biggest sporting shock of my lifetime”. Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill, who led the club to their previous highest Premier League finish of eighth in 2000, added his congratulations too, saying: “Not only is it a brilliant story, but it gives everyone that little bit of hope again. That romance has not left football.”

Leicester players, watching at Jamie Vardy’s house, were treated to a classic and you can only imagine the scenes there as the match unfolded and their party began.

Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink spoke to Claudio Ranieri after the game on the telephone and congratulated him.

“His voice was trembling a bit. I don’t know if he was crying. He said thanks five times,” said Hiddink.

Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino was dignified after the game.

“First of all we must congratulate Leicester, Claudio Ranieri and all of their players. It is true we are disappointed at the moment but we must be proud of the season and what we have done.”

Pochettino may well reflect that the effort put in by Chelsea, who began their comeback in the second half when Gary Cahill scored, was almost obscene given the lack of interest they have shown during the rest of the season.

But the Blues have not lost at home to Spurs since 1990 and by the end the visitors had lost all discipline as the disappointment of missing out on the title began to sink in.

There were ugly scenes at the final whistle as Rose and Costa squared up again and all 22 players seemed to be engulfed in a swaying huddle as they headed into the tunnel; but Tottenham’s season should not be remembered for those angry confrontation or for Hazard’s superb curling shot from an Oscar pass which fizzed into the top corner with only minutes to go.

It should be remembered for pushing a very good Leicester side all the way to the final weeks of the season.

It’s a real credit to the Foxes and their remarkable season that this Tottenham side sits only second in the table, seven points behind the leaders with two games to go; because they gave everything in pursuit.

The list of talking points in the game could stretch to several pages of A4. Kyle Walker kicked out at Pedro, Rose who was involved in a series of spats with Willian and even Pochettino got in on the act, racing onto the pitch to try and separate them - a decision which ended in an unseemly 12-man melee on the touchline as players from both sides weighed in.

Chelsea were by no means free of guilt, either, with Fabregas also kicking out and Mikel squaring up to Rose; but of course the only stat that mattered was Spurs drew the match when they needed to win it.

All that drama made for a cracking match in a frantic atmosphere, the kind that Chelsea have failed to deliver all season until now.

Spurs went ahead after 35 minutes when Lamela’s superb through-ball found Kane, played onside by Cesar Azpilicueta, and the striker calmly founded Hugo Lloris to score his 26th league goal of the season.

It was 2-0 before half-time, this time Son latching onto a pass from Christian Eriksen to finishafter Branislav Ivonovic gave away the ball.

The passion in the stands, however, meant Chelsea would not give up. Hiddink brought on Hazard, surprisingly left on the bench despite scoring his first two goals of the season at Bournemouth last week, and the Belgian delivered.

Chelsea finally found the net after an hour, Cahill clinically smashing home from a corner, and suddenly there were nerves on show before Hazard ripped the roof off Stamford Bridge with his equaliser..

Chelsea fans celebrated as though they had won the title; but of course they hadn’t. That honour goes to Leicester, who thoroughly deserved it. The achievement of Ranieri, Vardy, Mahrez and Co will live on for decades to come; and the way it was won here at Stamford Bridge, in such remarkable fashion, only adds to the legend.

Chelsea:

Begovic 6; Ivanovic 6, Cahill 7, Terry 6, Azpilicueta 5; Mikel 6, Matic 6 (Oscar 78; 7); Willian 8, Fabregas 8, Pedro 7 (Hazard 46; 7); Diego Costa 6.

Tottenham:

Lloris 7, Walker 7, Alderweireld 6 (Chadli 90), Vertonghen 7, Rose 8 (Davies 82); Dier 7, Dembele 6; Lamela 7, Eriksen 6, Son 7 (Mason 64; 6; Kane 7