-
Advertorial
-
FOCUS
-
Guide
-
Lifestyle
-
Tech and Vogue
-
TechandScience
-
CHTF Special
-
Nanshan
-
Futian Today
-
Hit Bravo
-
Special Report
-
Junior Journalist Program
-
World Economy
-
Opinion
-
Diversions
-
Hotels
-
Movies
-
People
-
Person of the week
-
Weekend
-
Photo Highlights
-
Currency Focus
-
Kaleidoscope
-
Tech and Science
-
News Picks
-
Yes Teens
-
Budding Writers
-
Fun
-
Campus
-
Glamour
-
News
-
Digital Paper
-
Food drink
-
Majors_Forum
-
Speak Shenzhen
-
Shopping
-
Business_Markets
-
Restaurants
-
Travel
-
Investment
-
Hotels
-
Yearend Review
-
World
-
Sports
-
Entertainment
-
QINGDAO TODAY
-
In depth
-
Leisure Highlights
-
Markets
-
Business
-
Culture
-
China
-
Shenzhen
-
Important news
在线翻译:
szdaily -> Sports -> 
Tottenham ends win drought at Chelsea
    2018-04-03  08:53    Shenzhen Daily

CUPPING his ear to the Chelsea fans hurling abuse and flipping fingers, Dele Alli savored the moment.

Twice at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, inside four minutes.

With two goals, the Tottenham midfielder answered his critics and ended his team’s 28-year victory drought at Chelsea.

By coming from behind to win 3-1 in west London, Tottenham extended its lead over Chelsea for the fourth Champions League place to eight points and left the Premier League champions facing a season out of Europe’s top competition.

“I am sure people will still be disappointed with the way I have played,” Alli said. “They will have plenty to say.”

If so, they’ll lose sight of just how much Alli has already achieved while still so young.

Signed by Tottenham from Milton Keynes Dons in 2015 for only five million pounds (now about US$7 million), Alli has 36 goals and 25 assists in 100 Premier League games.

“Sometimes we lose the focus that he is only 21 years old,” Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino said, “and sometimes there is too much expectation on his shoulders.”

The expectation was even greater Sunday with top-scorer Harry Kane starting on the bench after three weeks out injured, and with Alli’s recent struggles under the microscope.

Alli’s place in England’s World Cup squad was even questioned after playing just 22 minutes of two friendlies in the international break.

“He needs to win the trust and confidence of the national team manager again,” Pochettino said. “The only way to win trust and confidence is to play like he did today.”

It was going to take something special to eclipse the exploits of Christian Eriksen, and to spare the blushes of Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris who flapped at a cross to allow Alvaro Morata to head Chelsea in front.

Eriksen’s equalizer came in first-half stoppage time — a powerful, swerving strike from 25 meters.

“He’s a magician with the ball,” Alli said.

While Eriksen’s shot flummoxed goalkeeper Willy Caballero, the pace and movement of the visitors troubled the entire Chelsea team in the second half.

A combination of Eric Dier’s vision and Alli’s technique sent Tottenham into the lead in the 62nd minute.

Dier launched a high ball from inside his own half over the Chelsea defense. Alli brought it down with one touch and used his second to lift the ball past Caballero.

Chelsea was reeling. The task got even harder after failing to close down a Tottenham counterattack in the 66th minute.

Dier and Eriksen broke forward and fed Son Heung-min, who cut in from the right and forced Caballero off his line. The goalkeeper did block Son’s route to goal but the South Korean recovered the ball. Caballero made another intervention but Andreas Christensen failed to adequately clear and Alli pounced for his eighth goal of the season.

Meanwhile, Arsenal scored three times in the last 15 minutes to beat Premier League struggler Stoke 3-0, despite a fairly positive showing from the Potters in north London.

The Gunners, with more than one eye on Thursday’s Europa League quarterfinal with CSKA Moscow, were not at the races for much of the afternoon but keep a grip on sixth place following a 3-0 win.

(SD-Agencies)

深圳报业集团版权所有, 未经授权禁止复制; Copyright 2010, All Rights Reserved.
Shenzhen Daily E-mail:szdaily@szszd.com.cn