Spurs destiny out of their hands after draw
Source: Agencies |
May 10, 2013, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
TOTTENHAM Hotspur surrendered the initiative in the race for Champions League qualification despite coming from behind twice to draw 2-2 at top-four rival Chelsea in a pulsating English Premier League match on Wednesday.
Gylfi Sigurdsson's equalizer in the 80th minute earned Spurs a point at Stamford Bridge where they have a dreadful record but their destiny was out of their hands now, lying fifth behind Chelsea and Arsenal with two games left.
"Obviously with a point we don't depend on ourselves any more, someone else will have to drop points," said Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas, making his first return to the club that fired him 14 months ago.
A win would have all but secured Chelsea a place in Europe's top competition for an 11th straight season but it squandered leads by Oscar in the 11th minute and fellow Brazilian Ramires in the 39th. Emmanuel Adebayor scored a superb first equalizer for Spurs following a run from his own half in the 26th, only his fourth goal of the season.
The result will have gone down well at Arsenal, which is a point ahead of Spurs in fourth and knows it will qualify for the Champions League by winning its final two games - against relegation candidates Wigan Athletic and Newcastle United next week.
Third-place Chelsea is three points ahead of Tottenham with a vastly superior goal difference, so one win from its remaining games against Aston Villa and Everton will likely be enough, too.
Gylfi Sigurdsson's equalizer in the 80th minute earned Spurs a point at Stamford Bridge where they have a dreadful record but their destiny was out of their hands now, lying fifth behind Chelsea and Arsenal with two games left.
"Obviously with a point we don't depend on ourselves any more, someone else will have to drop points," said Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas, making his first return to the club that fired him 14 months ago.
A win would have all but secured Chelsea a place in Europe's top competition for an 11th straight season but it squandered leads by Oscar in the 11th minute and fellow Brazilian Ramires in the 39th. Emmanuel Adebayor scored a superb first equalizer for Spurs following a run from his own half in the 26th, only his fourth goal of the season.
The result will have gone down well at Arsenal, which is a point ahead of Spurs in fourth and knows it will qualify for the Champions League by winning its final two games - against relegation candidates Wigan Athletic and Newcastle United next week.
Third-place Chelsea is three points ahead of Tottenham with a vastly superior goal difference, so one win from its remaining games against Aston Villa and Everton will likely be enough, too.
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