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Second League against Tottenham by @southgamer on 3Speak
Tottenham have been a thorn my flesh right from the last time we played and I knew that this time around I have to fight hard. In the sense that you had to put up a better fight this time around. -...
And so the calm before the storm, again this so engraved into sporting history. These two teams have squared up so many times before. It is a rivalry whose significance has never been diluted and never ever will be, all stemming from that simple dread at the very idea of losing each to the other. Everyone here is obliged to win. There's nothing quite like Match Day, especially here. This crowd doesn't do ordinary, and we should be in for something very special. So, it is time to let them at it. Whoa, what a game this is, Peter. The pressure on both sets of players is tremendous, and they're both expected to win no matter what. It doesn't matter if you're contesting a title, a final, or just playing for pride. This one's always special. So things are underway. It's us or them, always has been, always will be. Well, having experience of games like this, Peter, getting the balance right between aggression and discipline is always key. Yeah, of course, you want to make your presence felt, but not for the wrong reasons. The movement is slick, the speed is slippery. The defence, though, able to hold on this time. Who do you pick out as the telling individual today? Well, Peter, the inclusion of this fellow, Mickey van Devend, is probably an indication that the boss wants to play out from the back. I mean, we all talk about how brilliant his recovery pace is when it comes to defending, but he's actually quite tasty on the ball too, particularly with his long-range passing, and he loves those diagonals at times, and he's one to watch out for. I wonder whether that has anything to do with you being a defender once upon a time, Jim. and it's a doggy. The pressing's intense, and it's paid off. Forwardton, with intent. Can he get on the end of this? And there's green grass ahead of him. Yamal was alert to the... Oh, they could be caught out! Can he finish! Not a bad try by any means. Yeah, I think he's going to be a bit disappointed with that, Peter. You would have fancied them to at least hit the target. Spence. Now it's Gallagher. No goals as yet. Alexander Arnold gets over and intercepts. Looking to play him in. It's a sweeping cross. He's a sharp little ball here, and it's been played through. Tries a shot, he's delivered. There was no getting to that, no getting to it at all, expertly done. He had the whole picture in his head, Peter. He didn't even look at the goalkeeper. Chelsea are in front now. The game's only goal. Yeah, but I think they all know too well that things are... And a chance! And he should have made them pay. That's good running. It makes life so much easier when you have people who are willing to go beyond the defense like that. Petroporo. It's Agahua, and he's had it nicked away. Agahua, unable to make it happen for all his good intentions. Nice, ended up in no man's land. He's hit it long, but astray. Tries to play it through. Space for him to turn and look. And he's there to clear it. Kaisado, lovely pass, but can he get there? Chelsea are looking to break at pace. The doggy is there to clear. Simeone clearly held onto it far too long there. Did he do enough to find someone? He looked as if he had his mind set on trying to do everything his way. And here's Risharlason. Oh, well played, well sorted out. And here's Risharlason. Akanji does really well to win the ball there. Now, this could be a chance. That looks a good ball through. Chelsea can certainly afford to see this half out now and reset during the break. And he's worked it through. Agahawa! And needless to say, that deserve better. Beautifully worked to take the defense out of the picture, but there'll be no rush to see the replay on this. Petroporo. And if you have just joined us, still just one goal between them. 1-0 the score. And it's Bentancourt. That's a good intervention. That was what he had to make in the face of danger that was growing. Van de Man calmly anticipates. Not the most convincing of passes. Fernandez. That pass just didn't quite work. Spence. Bentancourt. Camavinga gets a foot in here. Bentancourt. At expense. Fernandez wins the jewel this time. Pedro Poro. Pedro Porro. And the referee has signal for half-time. So a steady, solid, and more than satisfactory first half. They've got the lead, and that gives them something to build on after the break. Chelsea up by one goal at the halfway point. There's plenty of positives to take, despite the lead being so small, Peter. I think playing well, good energy. A little more composure up front, perhaps. That's not too much to ask. Well, it's been a proper Derby so far, no doubt about that. Intense and utterly captivating. Chelsea just about ahead, 1-0 at the break. So straight into the second half. Well, if you're ahead, it's a good time to start moving the ball quicker, Peter, entice your opponents out. Oh, shooting chance! And that's a good finish! they've been looking for. Oh, he did so well to hold his run and stay on side, Peter. That was really clever. Chelsea are doing very nicely, thank you. There's a certain authoritativeness in everything they do now. If they want to kill off this game, now's the time to get it done. It's come to nothing. and again they are repelled. Valverdi. Chelsea are clearly enjoying a very good spell. The flow of momentum is banging their favor. Trel Palina. It's Spentancourt. And it's Spence. Great ball, and he's in here. Fernandez. Well, that is one way to stop him. Yamal, looking to shake off some unwanted attention. Well, learning from your mistakes and not repeating. Touch for a shot! Just cruising! They are cruising! And they are disappearing out of sight! And a trademark move ends with the inevitable classy finish. Chelsea are such an adept counter-attacking team. They produce something out of nothing there. A few seconds was all it took for them. to convert a defensive situation into a goal, and it's very impressive. Chelsea find a position of real strength now, and things are much healthier in their favour. He's having a hit! And that is a save of real quality, not easy by any means. Messer clearly felt that distance wasn't an issue, but maybe there were better options for him there. And he thumps it clear. And now a sudden chance to counter. Now it's Kane. That looks a decent ball. It's crossed into the middle. Chelsea still have the cards to affect this game. Spence. Now, looking to orchestrate a counter and the through ball. Pedro Porro has it in a wide position. Spence's cross. Dunceau. Chelsea are totally dominant in the middle of the park, a no-way through zone. The pressing's intense, and it's paid off. Bentancourt, that is good pressure, just hounded him off. Now it's Risharlison, knocks it into space. Freds one in. That's the keeper's ball. Closing in on the last quarter of an hour. Trel Palina. Well, they've got it back in a hurry. Tell. Yeah, that does look a foul, referee's given a free kick. Substitution on the field, number 22, Gallagher, number 11, tell, number 24, coming on the field. He's felt that, has me. No foul, says the referee. Cadence, and it's Juel Palinia. Can he get it through? This is Messi, and Messi! Off the post! And a neat finish! Untouchable, remorselessless, relentless, a class of their own! The goals... He'll take that. Perhaps not the prettiest, but they all count. Such good movement. Some players have that natural ability to be in the right place at the right time. We've just seen the perfect example. Chelsea are having a ball here. Khrasepske, Trell Palinia. Now, can they get him away? Otter Bear? played into space. Great defending, strong and determined. Totnam can breathe again, just. That's simply brilliant defending. They were outnumbered, but he still came out on top. Kane! Goal! And it adds further to a heavily one -sided scoreline. This is getting punishing. It's a mass exodus now, certain sections of the stadium are leaving in droves, and you can't blame them. Chelsea are at the peak of their powers. That's for their opponents, a long way from that. Well, that's really wind of the opposition. You can see their manager screaming on the touchline, telling his team to calm down, but they'll need to do that pretty quickly. It's composure from here. Kulisepske tries to pass it through. He's found support out wide. Four added minutes has been indicated. Excellent challenge there, uncompromising. Time added on, four minutes. The ball is loose, and the chase is on. He's cleared it out of harm's way. Valverde does really well to win the ball there. That's a nicely shaped ball. Now it's Sompapapest to shoot! And it's hit the woodwork and out! It is close, but that is the last of it. Chelsea have done it. They've achieved what they came for. Maximum points, the perfect outcome. Well, how will we look back on that?
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