Chelsea 2-1 Tottenham: Blues keep West Ham afloat heading into Premier League final day | OneFootball

Enzo Fernández scored and assisted as Chelsea extended Tottenham’s run of just a single victory in 41 matches at Stamford Bridge with a clinical 2-0 win to prevent their rivals West Ham from being relegated with one match remaining.

Enzo Fernández drove home from range to put Chelsea within touching distance of the Europa Conference League, a trophy they currently still hold, before Andrey Santos swept in a second after Randall Kolo Muani’s poor giveaway after the break.

Richarlison found himself unmarked to steer in a lifeline for Chelsea inside the final 20 minutes, but his side fell short of completing the fightback and earning the point that would have ended the Hammers’ 14-year stay in the top flight.

As it happened

Spurs started brightly despite the torrid record at Stamford Bridge and almost found a priceless goal when Mathys Tel rose to meet an accurate cross by Pedro Porro 11 minutes in, but his header instead clattered the upright.

Following Cole Palmer’s warning shot that was parried by Antonín Kinsky, the keeper was no match for Fernández smashing a dipping strike into the net to open the scoring as Pedro Neto skipped infield unchallenged and shifted the ball across.

Chelsea were in their groove approaching the half-hour mark, as Moises Caicedo’s lovely through ball set Marc Cucurella away and the Spaniard picked out Liam Delap only for the towering striker to curl well wide.

Blues captain Fernández then went within inches of his second goal when his free kick hit the crossbar, taken from a tight angle on the left – chances were mounting for the hosts while Spurs saw few and far between during the opening 45 minutes.

Spurs resembled the side that found themselves in the bottom three after De Zerbi’s first game in charge when Kolo Muani aimed a pass back towards his half and gave it straight to Palmer.

The number 10 drove forward and picked out Fernández to the left of goal, who aimed a cushioned pass across towards Santos and the Brazilian midfielder caressed the shot past Kinsky to put Calum McFarlane’s side in cruise control.

But it wouldn’t last all that long as Porro burst into the penalty area and found substitute Pape Matar Sarr with a low cross, for the Senegalese to attempt a backheel that came the way of Richarlison before he found the net all too easily.

James Maddison, not long recovered from a lengthy injury, had a chance to level with six minutes of regular time left on his cameo from the bench but his shot from an acute angle was brilliantly blocked by Dutch defender Jorrel Hato.

There was a brief VAR check for a potential penalty when Cucurella appeared to drag Van De Ven to the floor right on the goal line, earning a booking, but as the corner hadn’t yet been taken no spot kick was forthcoming.

Maddison was presented with a free kick to save Tottenham’s season having featured for just five minutes of it, but curled over the top as the Blues fans breathed a collective sigh of relief to contrast the visitors’ desperation.

Spurs kept pushing until the seven added minutes were up, but were unable to ensure their Premier League status and avoid a final day shootout with West Ham on Sunday while Chelsea gave themselves hope of European football.

What next for Chelsea and Tottenham?

The victory for Chelsea saw them rise into eighth, meaning a draw at Sunderland on the final day would ensure they qualify for the Europa Conference League if Brentford fail to beat Liverpool, yet a defeat could see the Black Cats leapfrog them.

But a first win at home in seven games will bring Calum McFarlane’s side some much needed confidence heading into the most important game of their season at the Stadium of Light.

Tottenham’s fate is far from decided either, as West Ham’s former boss David Moyes could relegate them if they beat Roberto De Zerbi’s team at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and the Hammers win against Leeds.