Spurs put stop to Chelsea’s 13-game winning streak
LONDON >> Dele Alli underlined his growing reputation by single-handedly ending Chelsea’d 13-match winning run Wednesday, scoring two headed goals to give Tottenham a 2-0 victory over the Premier League leaders.
The defense has been the bedrock of Chelsea’s three-month hot streak but Alli was gifted space to score carbon copy goals in each half at White Hart Lane after meeting crosses from Christian Eriksen.
By taking his tally to seven goals in four games, the 20-year-old Alli inflicted Chelsea’s first loss since its last trip to north London at Arsenal in September and prevented the Blues from earning a league record 14th successive win in a single season.
Alli was described on the eve of the game by manager Mauricio Pochettino as the “most important player to emerge in English football in recent years.” Signed from thirdtier club MK Dons two years ago for 5 million pounds (then $8 million), Alli lived up to his manager’s exalted praise with his mastery of the attacking spaces.
While Chelsea was looking more likely to score on the counterattack in the first half, Tottenham used a break to devastating effect on the stroke of halftime with Alli making the breakthrough.
Kyle Walker teed up Eriksen and as the cross was floated into the penalty area, Alli was left unmarked between Victor Moses and Cesar Azpilicueta to coolly nod past goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
Spurs then punished Chelsea’s porous defending again in the 54th minute with a replica of the opener.
Walker did the running down the right flank before laying the ball off for Eriksen. The Danish international picked out Alli between Moses and Azpilicueta, and the midfielder found the target with this header.