Match Report: Tottenham 2 – 0 Chelsea

Where do we even begin with Tottenham’s 2-0 win over Chelsea on Wednesday? What exactly can be said of such a remarkable result, one that ended the Blues’ run of 13 consecutive wins?

Do you start with the man who single-handedly won it all for Tottenham? It was Dele Alli’s goals — one in first half stoppage time, another just nine minutes after the interval — that pushed Tottenham into the lead.

Or do you talk about the means by which Tottenham held that lead? Surely something is owed to the men who kept this Chelsea side from scoring for the first time since September.

A team featuring Diego Costa and Eden Hazad recorded just two shots on Tottenham’s goal. Even in the stretches of minutes that they could have been said to be the “better team” they never pushed the likes of Hugo Lloris, Toby Alderweireld or Eric Dier onto their heels.

And what of everything in between? Victor Wanyama and Mousa Dembélé left the pitch Wednesday night as the undisputed holders of Spurs’ central midfield. They parried, they closed down, they hassled, they hussled. They played near perfect games.

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From front to back and back to front — not to mention all around, thanks to the deafening home support — this was the match of Spurs’ season so far. And it had to be.

One doesn’t have to be generous in saying that this Chelsea side are genuinely great. Conte’s done one more than revitalize the side that won the Premier League just two seasons ago: he made them better. While they looked frail tonight, Chelsea will remain title favorites for the foreseeable future.

Their path to a trophy just got a lot muddier though. Mauricio Pochettino was right to note that there wasn’t a team in England that wasn’t rooting for Tottenham on Wednesday. There was a real risk that the Blues would wrap up their title by February should their winning streak continue. This loss leaves them just five points above Liverpool and seven above Spurs.

That Spurs would be the team to deliver this blow to Chelsea is as close to poetry as one gets in this game. Last season’s 2-2 draw near the end of the season gifted the Premier League title to Leicester City. The so-called Battle of Stamford Bridge left a mark on Tottenham that has only healed in the last few weeks.

One final question: where do Tottenham go from here? The win takes them third, one point above Arsenal in fifth and separated from Manchester City on goal difference.

Next: Mauricio Pochettino Reflects on Watford Win

This weekend they take on Aston Villa in the FA Cup. Alli can and should sit, as should the bulk of the team responsible for this truly season-changing run of victories.

From there, there Premier League season recommences. A rested, healthy and — most of all — highly motivated Tottenham side still have virtually the whole league left to play before the end of the season. For the first time since last spring though, it feels like Tottenham have it end them to do something genuinely special.