Chelsea clinch Premier League title
Aguero downs Spurs to lift City spirits
LONDON, May 3, (Agencies): Chelsea clinched their first Premier League title for five years as Jose Mourinho’s side produced a typically stubborn display to grind out a 1-0 victory against Crystal Palace at a jubilant Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Playmaker Eden Hazard scored the crucial goal in the 45th minute when he headed home the rebound after Palace keeper Julian Speroni had saved his weak penalty.
Chelsea were tested at times by a dangerous Palace side but the final whistle was greeted by raucous scenes as Jose Mourinho’s side clinched their fifth top-flight title and first since 2010.
Chelsea have 83 points from 35 games and cannot be surpassed by closest rivals Manchester City, who visit Tottenham Hotspur later on Sunday, and Arsenal both of whom trail by 16 points. Palace remain 12th with 42 points.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” Chelsea captain John Terry told Sky Sports. “We’ve worked so hard, so to get over the line is great.
“It was a bit nervy — they are a good side and made it difficult. Thankfully Eden got the goal and we won the game.
“This is what I live for. It’s been five years since we’ve won it. The first one was special and you go four or five years without it and that hurts. So I’ll really enjoy it today.”
Blustery, grey conditions had lingered for much of Sunday morning but kickoff in west London was greeted by the sudden emergence of sunshine which reflected the celebratory mood created by Chelsea’s expectant fans inside Stamford Bridge.
Visiting manager Alan Pardew had won four of his previous six matches as an opposition coach against Chelsea and from the opening stages it was evident his side — nestled safely in mid table — had designs on postponing the Blues’ title celebrations.
The hosts were almost gifted a fortuitous lead in the 22nd minute when Speroni punched wildly at Cesc Fabregas’s free kick but Nemanja Matic, afforded the freedom of the Palace penalty area, dithered and his shot was diverted for a corner.
Then it was Palace’s turn to go close but Jason Puncheon was denied by a desperate block from Chelsea defender John Terry — though replays suggested the ball may have struck the Chelsea captain’s arm.
With frustrations slowly building it was talisman Hazard, who after a relatively anonymous half by his own standards, burst into life drawing a challenge from James McArthur to win a controversial penalty.
The resultant spot kick was tame and easily saved by Speroni though the Belgian was quickest to react to nod home the rebound.
The game followed a similarly fractured pattern after the break and Chelsea had chances to extend their lead before Jason Puncheon fired inches wide for Palace in the 69th minute.
Palace have won more points from losing positions than any other Premier League side this year and they continued to cast warning shots with their counterattacking threat.
At the other end, Chelsea continued to fire blanks in search of a clinching goal but a fervent atmosphere had already engulfed Stamford Bridge long before the final whistle was blown.
In related story, the Premier League title beckoned for Chelsea from the moment Andre Schuerrle put them ahead after 20 minutes and 45 seconds of their opening fixture at Burnley on August 18.
Diego Costa’s first Chelsea goal cancelled out Scott Arfield’s opener and four minutes later Schuerrle converted a sumptuous, half-volleyed pass from Cesc Fabregas at the culmination of a superb 25-pass move.
Branislav Ivanovic’s 34th-minute goal completed a 3-1 win that took Jose Mourinho’s side above defending champions Manchester City on goals scored at the top of the table, and they have been there largely ever since.
“They’ve definitely been the best team in the league,” admits Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey. “They’ve only lost twice this season. Their consistency has been the best and that’s what you need.”
That win at Burnley, with Eden Hazard dazzling, Costa scoring and Fabregas supplying two assists, provided the blueprint for the Blues’ entire season, but the formula was tweaked after the turn of the year.
Chelsea won 11 and drew three of their first 14 games, notably beating Arsenal and Liverpool and crushing Everton 6-3, which sparked talk of an unbeaten campaign.
But they lost 2-0 at Newcastle United in early December and a 5-3 humbling at Tottenham Hotspur on New Year’s Day — which saw City pull dead-level for the space of nine days — prompted Mourinho to circle the wagons.
There was an emphatic 5-0 victory at Swansea City on January 17, but despite their challengers all falling away, Mourinho reverted to type and Chelsea’s next seven league wins would all come by a one-goal margin.
The leaders were taunted with chants of ‘Boring, boring Chelsea!’ during a 0-0 draw at Arsenal in April that edged them closer to the title, but captain John Terry clipped Mainz’s Julian Baumgartlinger and flew into the net on 37 minutes.
Mainz threatened to equalise when South Korea international Joo Ja-Cheol hit the post after some good work by Japan striker Shinji Okazaki on 69 minutes just before the hosts drew level.
Spanish midfielder Jairo Bustara put in a cross which Mainz midfielder Yunus Malli fired home.
But Hamburg’s Serbian international Kacar, who is out of contract at the end of the season, slammed home his shot from just outside the area on 87 minutes to give the visitors the three points.
Standings
Dsaid the criticism was unfounded.
“Possession and tippy-tappy football’s great, but if you are not winning games, you’re not going to win the league,” he said.
Despite their dominance, Chelsea have seemed to spend much of the season with their backs to the wall as Mourinho employed a familiar strategy by creating a siege mentality.
After Fabregas was booked for diving during a 1-1 draw at Southampton in late December, the Portuguese declared that there was a “campaign” against his team orchestrated by the media and opposition coaches.
City 1, Spurs 0 Sergio Aguero lifted Manchester City’s spirits as the Argentine’s fine finish clinched a 1-0 win at Tottenham on the day his side’s reign as Premier League champions came to an end.
Manuel Pellegrini’s team kicked off just half an hour after Chelsea were crowned champions with a victory over Crystal Palace and, given the lacklustre nature of their title defence, it would have been little surprise to see City turn in a disinterested display at White Hart Lane.
But Aguero’s predatory instincts came to the rescue as he netted the first half winner that kept City in second place and effectively guaranteed their berth in next season’s Champions League.
City’s third successive win moved them nine points clear of fifth placed Liverpool with a vastly superior goal difference and only three games remaining.
While City were able to restore some pride in north London, Tottenham’s eighth defeat in their last nine encounters with the Eastlands outfit all but ended their own bid for a top four finish, leaving Mauricio Pochettino’s side seven points behind fourth placed Manchester United.
With Chelsea’s title party in full swung across London, Pellegrini’s men badly needed a dynamic performance to raise morale after limply surrendering their crown.
Standings
D