[ 2011-12-23 ]

Spurs 1 Chelsea 1
Even in troubled times there is a remarkable
resilience to John Terry. Even with the abuse
falling from the skies like acid rain, Chelsea’s
captain rescued his team when it mattered most,
making an astonishing last-minute clearance. Say
what you like about Terry, and Spurs fans
certainly did relentlessly, but he never hides.

He finished the game sliding across his six-yard
box, somehow getting his body in the way of a
goalbound shot from Emmanuel Adebayor.

Moments later, on the safe side of the final
whistle, Terry marched across to the away fans
congregated in the corner of the Park Lane End. He
thumped the lion on his shirt, then removed his
top, launching it into the away fans.

“There’s only one England captain,’’
chanted the Chelsea fans. On this evidence, and
even taking into account the reality that Terry
was partly culpable for Adebayor’s goal, it is
easy to understand from a footballing perspective
why Fabio Capello sticks by him during his journey
through the legal system. Like him or loathe him,
Terry’s a leader.

Even in a season of transition, there is a seam of
mettle running through Chelsea, embodied by Terry.
They withstood the early tempest whipped up by
Gareth Bale, recovered from Adebayor’s strike
and injuries to Branislav Ivanovic and John Obi
Mikel. They hit back through Daniel Sturridge and
produced some splendid chances, two gilt-edged
ones missed by Ramires.

Taking a point at the Lane is a fine achievement.
Harry Redknapp’s hosts have been in such vibrant
form, rising to third in the table, yet the
feeling remained that those most pleased by last
night’s draw hailed from Manchester. Spurs, who
have a game in hand, are seven points adrift of
United, themselves two behind City.

Chelsea are two points behind Spurs after this
enthralling, end-to-end game ended with honours
even, deservedly so. Spurs came flying out of the
blocks, seeming to feed on the adrenalin cascading
from the terraces on another memorably atmospheric
occasion at the Lane. The chants were endless, the
Spurs fans targeting Terry with all manner of
invective.

Terry, typically, ignored all the barracking in
the background. He needed all his concentration
dealing with Spurs, who were inspired by Bale, the
winger leaving Jose Bosingwa choking on his vapour
trails. Taxi for Bosingwa? Almost.

The Portuguese was left standing again when Bale
came calling after eight minutes. The excellent
Sandro began the move, winning possession with a
thunderous tackle on Sturridge. The Brazilian
released Bale down the flank and the Welshman was
on his bike. Not even Mark Cavendish would have
caught him. Bosingwa certainly couldn’t.

For all the low, drilled quality of Bale’s
cross, Chelsea should still have prevented its
arrival at the feet of Adebayor. Petr Cech,
seemingly fallible of late, failed to grab the
cross. Terry also erred, responding too slowly to
Adebayor’s run, allowing the Spurs striker to
exploit Cech’s hesitancy and turn the ball in.

Chelsea responded. Ashley Cole, again excellent,
began to push down the left. Sturridge started to
move in menacingly from the right, his progress
unhindered by Benoît Assou-Ekotto. Juan Mata
settled, soon unleashing a drive that Brad Friedel
pushed out. Sturridge seized on the loose ball but
shot over under pressure from Ledley King.

Belief increasingly filled the blue shirts.
Deserved reward soon came for Chelsea. Didier
Drogba began the move to the equaliser, playing
the ball towards Cole. Rafael van der Vaart,
desperately seeking to intervene, simply knocked
it on to Cole’s arm. Parker screamed for
hand-ball but it was accidental.

Cole darted on, crossing to the far-post where
Sturridge had again escaped the intermittent
attentions of Assou-Ekotto. Sturridge is making a
habit of appearing in these situations and he
calmly swept Chelsea level.

The Blues were now in the mood. Raul Meireles had
a shot saved. Drogba chested the ball down and
almost broke the bar with an effort.

Ivanovic and then Mikel limped off. Paulo Ferreira
went to right-back, Bosingwa impressively to
centre-half while Oriol Romeu slotted in to deep
midfield.

Still Chelsea feared Bale. Ramires was booked for
a scissors-tackle on the Welshman. Spurs, having
let the initiative slip, at least finished the
half on an upbeat note. Assou-Ekotto’s cross was
well controlled by Adebayor, who turned and opened
a yard of space for himself. Cech was equal to the
shot.

Another injury then forced a re-jig, this time for
Spurs. Van der Vaart, who had been playing off
Adebayor, felt his hamstring and failed to
re-appear for the second half. Roman Pavlyuchenko
strolled on but made little impact as Spurs lined
up in more 4-4-2 mode. With Luka Modric moved to
the right, Spurs lost some of their central
creativity.

Chelsea still threatened. Drogba teased a pass
through the middle for Ramires, whose first touch
nudged the ball forward, taking him through
one-on-one with Friedel. Ramires shot but Friedel
blocked well.

Some controversy ensued as Adebayor, already on a
yellow, went in on Terry, leaving the Chelsea fans
baying for red. Howard Webb showed leniency.

Andre Villas-Boas made his last change with 14
minutes left, bringing on Fernando Torres. Frank
Lampard, who had been warming up, receiving a few
compliments from Spurs fans, sat down in the
dug-out and removed his boots. He watched intently
as Chelsea chased a winner. Sturridge was finding
more room, testing Friedel with a drive.

Spurs had some glorious chances to win it through
Bale, who shot wildly over, and then Sandro, who
was brilliantly denied by Cech.

Still Spurs attacked, William Gallas just failing
to score at the near-post.

Chelsea then wasted an even better chance. Ramires
had the freedom of White Hart Lane as a free-kick
came in. The midfielder was totally unmarked but
he steered his header wide. Bad miss. Then Romeu
clubbed a shot just wide. Then came that superb
piece of defending by Terry.

It was all over bar the shouting at Terry. He
shrugged it off

Source - The Telegraph

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