WEDNESDAY 4TH AUGUST, 2021
(7.45pm)
FRIENDLY MATCH (THE MIND SERIES)
CHELSEA 2(1) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2(0)
Chelsea scorers:-
Ziyech, 16, 49
Spurs scorers:-
Lucas Moura, 56
Bergwijn, 70
Attendance:- TBC
Referee:- Keith Stroud
Teams:-
Chelsea (3-4-3):- 16 Mendy; 26 Chalobah (sub Miazga, 80), 15 Zouma (sub 12 Loftus-Cheek, 63), 2 Rudiger (sub 18 Ampadu, 63); 20 Hudson-Odoi (sub 10 Pulisic, 46), 17 Kovacic (sub 27 Anjorin, 63), 7 Kante (Capt.)(Sub 14 Bakayoko, 46), 3 Alonso (sub Kenedy, 63); 11 Werner (sub 4 Sarr, 63), 22 Ziyech (sub 9 Abraham, 63), 29 Havertz (sub 21 Zappacosta, 63)
(Armband to Mendy)
Subs not used:- 1 Kepa, 13 Bettinelli; 23 Batshuayi
Booked:- Ampadu (foul on Aurier)
Spurs (4-3-3):- 22 Gollini; 2 Doherty (sub 24 Aurier, 80), 25 Tanganga, 15 Dier (Capt.),3 Reguilon (sub 33 Davies, 73);29 Skipp, 5 Hojbjerg (sub 8 Winks, 46), 20 Dele; 27 Lucas Moura, 7 Son, 23 Bergwijn(sub 53, Scarlett)
Subs not used:- 41 Whiteman; 14 Rodon, 44 Omole, 38 Carter-Vickers; 17 Sissoko, 57 John, 47 Clarke
No bookings
Nice come-back at Stamford Bridge
The whole idea of a "friendly" match against Chelsea, followed by Arsenal on Sunday seems alien, but of course the clubs cannot make their usual commercial arrangements in foreign climes and this series is in aid of an excellent cause - MIND - which has been well supported by Spurs Odyssey in recent years.
Spurs gave Pierluigi Gollini his first start and played a fairly strong side with unexpected names such as Aurier and Sissoko on the bench. Chelsea's squad included perpetual loanees such as Chalobah, who started, and Ampadu, Miazga and Batshuayi, who were on the bench. Miazga is a 26-year-old defender who has been on Chelsea's books since 2016. Since playing in two Premier League games five years ago Miazga has been on loan at four clubs, latterly Anderlecht. Chalobah has yet to play a senior game for his club. Batshuayi is better known, having been with Crystal Palace of late.
Chelsea had beaten Arsenal 2-1 at The Emirates in the first match of this series. The lower tier of The Matthew Harding Stand was bereft of fans, as Chelsea are in the process of building rail seats. As has been decreed for these games, no away fans were permitted.
The teams took the knee before Spurs kicked off, playing away from the traditional away end – The “Shed” end. They had an early attack through the front three and after Bergwijn passed inside to Son, “Sonny” hit a shot from the left of the area which was deflected and won a corner with keeper Mendy on the stretch at his right post.
That was our best attack for a while as a sharp Chelsea side, driven by their tigerish skipper Kante in midfield began to dominate possession. A left foot shot by Kovacic passed over the target. Dele was playing deeper than ever, often seen in his own area and he was booed by the home crowd when succeeding at his task. Dele probably relished that. After 13 minutes he defended stoutly against Ziyech after a cross from the left.
Skipp brought Spurs forward and fed the ball to Lucas, whose pass into the Chelsea area was cleared. Lucas was dispossessed at the halfway line by that man Kante who sent Ziyech away. Ziyech, who has always felt sore about that Champions League defeat of Ajax over two years ago, raced forward down the right channel and beat Gollini with a well-placed low shot inside the keeper’s left post. Chelsea had paraded this year’s Champions League trophy before the game.
Spurs were under more pressure after 20 minutes when Kovacic passed to Werner. Ziyech put the final shot wide. Werner had the ball in the n et after another Kovacic pass, but that was clearly offside. Rudiger headed over from a Chelsea corner.
Dele was so deep he played the ball forward to Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, who was making his first appearance of this season. Hojbjerg fed the ball to Lucas, whose intended pass for Son was far too strong.
Gollini had a busy night, and one he will be pleased with. He saved comfortably from Werner who had been teed up by Kante but hit a weakish shot. Gollini saved again, this time from Ziyech who hit a low cross/shot from the left after Kante’s pass had come via Werner.
Spurs were struggling to make headway. A shot by Havertz was held by Gollini after Alonso’s cross. Alonso took a free kick before the break, but that was blocked by the wall.
Harry Winks replaced Hojbjerg after the break, whilst Chelsea made two changes with Pulisic on for Hudson-Odoi and Bakayoko replacing Kante. Bakayoko is another regular Chelsea traveller and did not look comfortable on the ball tonight. Chelsea kicked off but soon lost the ball just outside their area. Lucas crossed low from the right for Son, whose shot was blocked by Chalobah.
However, it was Chelsea who went two up within four minutes of the restart. Ziyech scored again, receiving a cut-back by Alonso before despatching a shot that beat both Dier and Gollini.
At the other end Doherty went down in the box under Alonso’s challenge referee Keith Stroud was not interested. Chelsea countered and Werner hit one shot wide and had another held by Gollini.
Spurs got a much-welcome goal back in the 56th minute. Lucas Moura, Bergwijn and finally Dele had been involved in the move before Lucas hit a right foot shot which took a looping deflection to beat Mendy. At the other end Gollini was down well to smother Pulisic at close range.
Steven Bergwijn passed inside to Son who threaded a nice return pass onto the box where Bergwijn went down under Chalobah’ s challenge but made no complaints of a foul. On the hour, Rudiger was given too much room and hit a left foot shot from 22 yards which was held cleanly by Pierluigi Gollini.
Chelsea made a raft of substitutions and Spurs were now playing a very much weakened side. Initially they continued to show well with Gollini having to dive to his right to save well from Kenedy (last seen playing in Spain for Granada).
The sizeable Chelsea crowd had been crowing all night and it can’t have been a pleasant experience for our players with none of their own fans to support them. However, our front three combined well with Lucas passing to Son who then continued the flow to Bergwijn on the left of the box. Steven hit a left foot shot and scored through Mendy’s legs! That home crowd fell somewhat quiet.
Gollini had to make another good save though after Pulisic fed Abraham whose shot was saved towards the left of goal. Sergio Reguilon was replaced by Davies, who got on the end of a nice Spurs build-up with “Sonny” slipping Ben the ball for a shot which had to be cleared in front of the back post. More subs followed with Serge Aurier replacing Doherty for his first appearance and young Dane Scarlett replacing Bergwijn.
Aurier was fouled on the right and “Sonny” took the kick, which came to nought. Scarlett was involved in a nice attack which led to a dangerous cross by Aurier, following which Son and Dele were blocked off in the Chelsea area. Eric Dier cleared a Zappacosta cross well for a corner which was powerfully headed clear. Three minutes were added but the match remained level.
A convincing win by Spurs in the third and last game of the MIND series at home to Arsenal on Sunday would see us win this mini-tournament!
Top of page | Index to 2021-22 Friendly Matches & Reports
