Chelsea fails to close gap on Spurs
Source: Agencies |
March 25, 2012, Sunday
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CHELSEA missed the chance to close the gap on Tottenham Hotspur in the race for a top-four finish yesterday, drawing 0-0 in the English Premier League's early kickoff at Stamford Bridge in London.
The draw left fifth-placed Chelsea five points adrift of a coveted Champions League qualifying berth, and fourth-placed Tottenham, which is level with third-placed Arsenal on 50 points, was unlucky not to take all three points after twice going close late on.
Spurs, bidding to secure their first league win at Chelsea since 1990, enjoyed the better of the chances without ever managing to dominate their London rivals in a game played in brilliant sunshine.
Nevertheless Tottenham defender Kyle Walker was happy with the outcome after a run of results which had seen the club take just one point from a possible 12 in the four games leading into the derby.
"It's a step in the right direction. We can push on now," Walker told Sky Sports. "With the people we've got in the dressing room, we can destroy any team. It's just a manner of putting trust in ourselves.
"We defended well and were organized well. We're pleased with a point. There's eight games to go, it's going to difficult.
"It's not easy in the Premier League but we have to keep believing in ourselves."
The best chance of a lackluster first half came two minutes into injury time, when Tottenham playmaker Rafael van der Vaart spurned a golden opportunity, denied by a Petr Cech save and a goalline block by Ashley Cole.
Chelsea's only genuine chance on goal came on 73 minutes when a Juan Mata freekick hit the woodwork with Tottenham goalie Brad Friedel well-beaten.
Blues substitute David Luiz was unable to get into position to rifle in the rebound and the chance was gone.
At the other end, Chelsea had transfer-window signing Gary Cahill to thank for a superb sliding block from Emmanuel Adebayor on 79 minutes, the England international cutting out the Togolese striker's effort after he had successfully rounded Cech and shot. From the ensuing corner Spurs midfielder Gareth Bale crashed a thumping header off the crossbar but Chelsea escaped again.
In the final minute of injury time Cech was on hand once more to parry away a vicious long-range freekick from Bale as Chelsea hung on for the point.
Later, Manchester City can return to the top if it avoids defeat at Stoke City. Manchester United, leader by one point, plays at home to Fulham today.
In Germany, VfL Wolfsburg beat Hamburg SV 2-1 on Friday to stay in contention for a European spot and leave its opponent battling against relegation after suffering a fourth straight defeat.
Wolfsburg's third consecutive win lifted the 2009 champion to eighth on 37 points. Sixth place at the end of the season will be enough to qualify for the Europa League.
Hamburg, the only club never to have played in the second division since the introduction of the Bundesliga in 1963, remained stuck in 14th position on 27, two points above the relegation playoff zone.
The draw left fifth-placed Chelsea five points adrift of a coveted Champions League qualifying berth, and fourth-placed Tottenham, which is level with third-placed Arsenal on 50 points, was unlucky not to take all three points after twice going close late on.
Spurs, bidding to secure their first league win at Chelsea since 1990, enjoyed the better of the chances without ever managing to dominate their London rivals in a game played in brilliant sunshine.
Nevertheless Tottenham defender Kyle Walker was happy with the outcome after a run of results which had seen the club take just one point from a possible 12 in the four games leading into the derby.
"It's a step in the right direction. We can push on now," Walker told Sky Sports. "With the people we've got in the dressing room, we can destroy any team. It's just a manner of putting trust in ourselves.
"We defended well and were organized well. We're pleased with a point. There's eight games to go, it's going to difficult.
"It's not easy in the Premier League but we have to keep believing in ourselves."
The best chance of a lackluster first half came two minutes into injury time, when Tottenham playmaker Rafael van der Vaart spurned a golden opportunity, denied by a Petr Cech save and a goalline block by Ashley Cole.
Chelsea's only genuine chance on goal came on 73 minutes when a Juan Mata freekick hit the woodwork with Tottenham goalie Brad Friedel well-beaten.
Blues substitute David Luiz was unable to get into position to rifle in the rebound and the chance was gone.
At the other end, Chelsea had transfer-window signing Gary Cahill to thank for a superb sliding block from Emmanuel Adebayor on 79 minutes, the England international cutting out the Togolese striker's effort after he had successfully rounded Cech and shot. From the ensuing corner Spurs midfielder Gareth Bale crashed a thumping header off the crossbar but Chelsea escaped again.
In the final minute of injury time Cech was on hand once more to parry away a vicious long-range freekick from Bale as Chelsea hung on for the point.
Later, Manchester City can return to the top if it avoids defeat at Stoke City. Manchester United, leader by one point, plays at home to Fulham today.
In Germany, VfL Wolfsburg beat Hamburg SV 2-1 on Friday to stay in contention for a European spot and leave its opponent battling against relegation after suffering a fourth straight defeat.
Wolfsburg's third consecutive win lifted the 2009 champion to eighth on 37 points. Sixth place at the end of the season will be enough to qualify for the Europa League.
Hamburg, the only club never to have played in the second division since the introduction of the Bundesliga in 1963, remained stuck in 14th position on 27, two points above the relegation playoff zone.
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