Chelsea boosted their bid to qualify for the Champions League as Marc Cucurella’s rocket sealed a 1-0 win over Leicester, whereas Tottenham fought again from two targets down to attract 2-2 with Bournemouth on Sunday.
Cucurella struck within the second half at Stamford Bridge to carry Chelsea above Manchester Metropolis into fourth within the Premier League.
The Blues are two factors forward of Metropolis within the race for the highest 4 end that ensures a Champions League berth.
It was solely Chelsea’s fourth victory of their final 12 league video games as they responded to boss Enzo Maresca’s problem to win all their remaining house matches.
Maresca believes that must be sufficient to make sure Champions League motion, however Chelsea should enhance on a spluttering efficiency in opposition to second-bottom Leicester.
Cole Palmer missed a penalty for Chelsea and was later substituted, making it seven league video games and not using a purpose or help amid criticism of the England ahead’s pissed off physique language.
Maresca left Leicester on the finish of final season after main them to promotion and the Foxes look destined to return to the Championship with out him.
Ruud van Nistelrooy’s aspect have misplaced 5 successive league video games and sit six factors from security.
Chelsea legends Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Dennis Sensible, Kerry Dixon and Ron Harris have been on the pitch earlier than kick-off to rejoice the membership’s a hundred and twentieth anniversary.
This was removed from a spotlight second in Chelsea’s illustrious historical past nonetheless.
Victor Kristiansen’s clumsy problem pole-axed Jadon Sancho, incomes Chelsea a primary half spot-kick.
Often such a ruthless penalty taker, Palmer seized the ball as he appeared to finish his drought, just for Mads Hermansen to disclaim him with an excellent save.
It was the primary penalty miss of Palmer’s profession and Leicester nearly made him pay instantly.
Error-prone Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez fully missed James Justin’s cross and Tosin Adarabioyo’s miscued headed clearance thudded off the woodwork.
Chelsea lastly took the lead in spectacular trend on the hour when Spanish defender Cucurella drilled into the underside nook from 25 yards.
– Spurs escape –
On the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Bournemouth missed an opportunity to climb into the highest 4 race because the hosts saved boss Ange Postecoglou from one other embarrassing defeat.
Tottenham misplaced 1-0 at AZ Alkmaar within the Europa League final 16 first leg on Thursday.
That competitors represents Tottenham’s final probability of fulfilling Postecoglou’s boast that he all the time win a trophy in his second season.
Languishing in thirteenth within the Premier League, Postecoglou’s aspect have gone three video games and not using a win in all competitions.
Tottenham striker Dominic Solanke shook off a again damage for his first league look since January, whereas Cristian Romero returned to the Tottenham defence for the primary time since December after a thigh damage.
Regardless of these reinforcements, Tottenham conceded within the forty second minute, when Marcus Tavernier utilized the final touch to Milos Kerkez’s pin-point cross after Pedro Porro carelessly conceded possession.
Postecoglou despatched on Son Heung-min at half-time in a bid to spark Tottenham and the South Korean was inches away from equalising as his deflected strike whistled vast.
Bournemouth struck once more within the sixty fifth minute as Evanilson raced onto Justin Kluivert’s move and lifted a composed end over Guglielmo Vicario.
However Pape Sarr diminished the deficit two minutes later, the Tottenham midfielder catching out Bournemouth keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga with a misjudged cross that by some means dipped in on the far submit.
Tottenham accomplished their escape within the 84th minute as Kepa conceded a penalty with a determined lunge on Son.
Son calmly slotted house from the spot for his first purpose in 10 video games, taking him to 11 in all competitions this season.
In a while Sunday, second-placed Arsenal face Manchester United at Previous Trafford trying to shut the hole on runaway leaders Liverpool to 13 factors.
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