Penders howler helps resurgent Spurs raid Stamford Bridge for first time in eight years
PUNCH DRUNK: Chelsea goalkeeper Mike Penders (second from right) fails to clear the ball resulting in an own goal and Tottenham Hotspurs first goal of the game during the Premier League match at Stamford Bridge, London. Pic: Saturday October 24, 2026.
Mike Penders’ own-goal and a sensational solo effort by Mathys Tel helped Tottenham end their Stamford Bridge hoodoo with only a second win at Chelsea in the Premier League era.
Roberto De Zerbi’s team arrived in west London with a torrid record at rivals Chelsea after only one triumph from their last 41 visits to SW6, but turned history on its head with a dominant display in a 2-0 win against Xabi Alonso’s 10 men.
Spurs, who only got off the mark in the league on Monday at home to Coventry, broke the deadlock when Penders punched the ball into his own net after 77 minutes from Mateus Fernandes’ corner before red mist descended over Cole Palmer.
Palmer had already received a yellow card for barging into Fernandes when he received his marching orders by referee Chris Kavanagh for catching Conor Gallagher late with 10 minutes left.
Tottenham were minutes away when Tel collected the ball inside his half, raced past Maxence Lacroix and rifled it into the bottom corner to send De Zerbi off in celebration down the touchline as the north London club claimed the points at Chelsea for the first time since 2018.
Chelsea’s 2-1 victory over Tottenham in May made it 10 wins in 12 for the Blues in this one-sided derby, but Alonso was without Joao Pedro while Penders deputised for Emiliano Martinez in goal.
Spurs were also missing key personnel, but De Zerbi paired £185million duo Sandro Tonali and Fernandes in midfield for the first time and the visitors controlled the opening exchanges.
It was still Chelsea who created the best early chance when Fernandes was dispossessed by the corner flag and Palmer let fly, but Antonin Kinsky parried away.
Tottenham then started to turn their dominance into opportunities with James Maddison denied by a strong Lacroix tackle before Mohammed Kudus brought down a dug out Tel cross but curled wide.
The big moment for the visitors arrived in the 29th minute when Maddison combined with Andrew Robertson, who exchanged passes with Tel down the left and picked out Omar Marmoush but his low effort was straight at Penders and it remained 0-0.
A slack pass by Kinsky almost instantly punished Spurs but the Czech goalkeeper denied Jordan Henderson from the edge of the area and kicked out Pedro Neto’s follow-up with 36 minutes on the clock.
De Zerbi was forced into a change four minutes after half-time when Maddison went down which halted Tottenham’s momentum, and Neto went close again for Chelsea just after the hour only for Kinsky to produce another save.
Alonso turned to Marco Palestra shortly afterwards with Pedro Porro and Dominic Solanke introduced for the visitors in constant downpour.
Tempers boiled over with 20 minutes left when Fernandes cynically handled to stop Palmer, who barged into the Spurs midfielder and got a booking along with Micky van de Ven, Fernandes and De Zerbi.
Fernandes was back in the action with 16 minutes left when his shot was deflected behind for a corner and the £85m midfielder sent in a curled delivery which Penders could only punch into his own net in the 77th minute under pressure from Jan Paul van Hecke.
Spurs were ahead at Stamford Bridge for the first time since 2018 and their task was made easier when Palmer trod on Gallagher’s ankle to earn a second yellow card.
Tottenham were almost over the line and Tel clinched a memorable away win when he dribbled forward from inside his own half before finding the bottom corner from range to spark jubilant scenes in the away dugout after a statement result.
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