A Harry Kane-inspired Tottenham Hotspur left Chelsea tottering at the Barclays Premier League summit with a spectacular 5-3 win over their London rivals.
Champions Manchester City battled to a 3-2 victory over Sunderland earlier on New Year’s Day to move level on points with Jose Mourinho’s team, who initially found an assured response through Diego Costa’s 14th league goal of the season.
But it was another striker who illuminated the contest, with Kane brilliantly equalising after 30 minutes and winning a penalty that Andros Townsend converted moments after Danny Rose gave Tottenham a 45th-minute lead.
A 3-1 half-time advantage became 4-1 eight minutes into the second period when Kane excelled once more to chalk up a sixth goal in his past six games and 16th of the season overall.
Federico Fazio’s error allowed Eden Hazard to reduce the arrears, but Nacer Chadli’s strike put the game beyond the reach of the visitors, though John Terry did have the last say with a late close-range finish.
The result means Chelsea and Manchester City now boast identical records, with the same totals for goals scored and conceded, meaning that if this was replicated after 38 rounds of the season, there would be a play-off match to decide the destination of the BPL title.
Chelsea playmaker Oscar returned from illness, while Cesar Azpilicueta and Willian were also restored to the starting XI.
Nabil Bentaleb – one of three players recalled to the home line-up – fired an early long-range strike at Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, but a hamstring injury forced fellow midfielder Ryan Mason off and checked Tottenham Hotspur’s enterprising start.
Courtois reacted smartly when Chadli hooked an overhead kick goalwards before Chelsea went ahead in the 18th minute.
Spurs retreated as Hazard glided past left-back Rose to shoot against the base of the post and Oscar steered the loose ball back towards goal, leaving Costa with a tap in.
Going behind unsettled Spurs and Oscar almost doubled his team’s advantage when he stabbed wide in the 25th minute.
As has so often been the case during their recent impressive run, Tottenham Hotspur looked to Kane for inspiration and he answered the call in style.
The England Under-21 forward dropped deep to receive possession and escaped the attentions of Oscar to drill a superb low strike into the bottom left corner.
And Maurcio Pochettino’s men surged into a two-goal lead as the first half ended in remarkable fashion.
Christian Eriksen expertly unpicked the Chelsea defence to find Chadli and Rose slammed home under pressure after the Belgian’s shot came back off the upright.
Kane was involved once more in stoppage time, stealing in front of Gary Cahill to draw a foul and leaving the England centre-back to watch international colleague Townsend thrash a low penalty beyond Courtois’ dive.
Ramires came on for compatriot Oscar at the break and Hazard blasted over from the edge of the area before Kane sublimely took centre stage once more.
Seizing possession with his back to goal, Kane spun past Nemanja Matic and slotted an effortless finish past the helpless Courtois.
Chelsea were handed a route back into the match when Hazard caught Fazio in possession, surged forward from halfway to exchange passes with Cesc Fabregas and smash into the net.
Spurs were indebted to goalkeeper Hugo Lloris for keeping out Azpilicueta’s rasping 75th-minute strike before Chelsea’s tormentors-in-chief appeared to settle the issue.
Kane and Chadli combined for the latter to cut in from the left and steer home another unerring finish, while Terry’s tap-in from Hazard’s cross failed to take the gloss off a memorable win for Tottenham Hotspur, who move into fifth place, two points behind fourth-placed Southampton and above rivals Arsenal.
Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane: “It shows how good a team we are. To score five goals, and that’s one of the best defences in the world, shows that we’re really coming together. I’m delighted with that win. We’ve kept yup our run and hopefully we can take that into the games ahead.”
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho: “I think we made some defensive mistakes, some individual defensive mistakes. It was not easy for my defenders to cope with Nacer Chadli and Harry Kane. It was also very difficult for Tottenham defenders to deal with an amazing Eden Hazard and good Diego Costa. You can speak about crucial moments of the game but I prefer to focus on the result. The players tried a lot but the fifth goal killed a bit our fantastic reaction.”
STUDIO 3 NEWCASTLE AUSTRALIA 