It was not exactly Battle of the Bridge: Part 2, yet it was quite close. Antonio Conte and Thomas Tuchel both lost their psyches.
The excessive celebrations of Spurs boss Antonio Conte sparked an irate response from Thomas Tuchel and caused a bench-clearing spat, in the final 20 minutes of a highly entertaining London derby.
Chelsea had the better of the first half and deservedly hit the front when two of their new signings linked up from a corner kick. With Tottenham marking zonally for set-pieces, Marc Cucurella picked out a loosely marked Kalidou Koulibaly with a lofted corner, and the Senegalese star volleyed home.
Sideline spat after Spurs equaliser
Mason Mount had a curling effort go over the Spurs bar and Antonio Conte, who left four summer signings on his bench, had some work to do at half-time.
Chelsea were looking crisper, though. Richarlison came on for Spurs but Mount and Raheem Sterling both missed great chances to make it 2-0. As if the hosts needed any more warning to be clinical when chances arose, Harry Kane fired just wide after a Spurs counter-attack, on 61 minutes.
[ruby_related heading=”More Read” total=5 layout=1]Spurs were growing into the game, and Emil Højbjerg fizzed home a low drive from outside the Chelsea box, on 68 minutes. That goal sparked a sideline blow-out between Antonio Conte and Thomas Tuchel. With both benches getting involved, and a VAR check on the goal, play did not resume until the 72nd minute.
When it did, Kai Havertz missed a sitter after a fine Reece James cross. The Chelsea defender took matters into his own hands, on 78 minutes, and fired past Hugo Lloris to restore the Chelsea lead.
Mason Mount was narrowly wide when sub Conor Gallagher teed him up. Ben Davies then had a header tipped over, but Harry Kane nodded home from four yards out, six minutes into injury time. 2-2, just as the original ‘Battle of the Bridge’ finished.
There was then huge controversy after the final whistle as the two head coaches were sent off when a hand-shake went crazily off the rails.
