Chelsea vs. Tottenham score: Hakim Ziyech wonder goal inflicts first Premier League defeat on Antonio Conte

A 2-0 win for Chelsea tightened their grip on third place in the Premier League

LONDON -- Chelsea inflicted Spurs' first Premier League defeat under Antonio Conte, the Blues' former boss, thanks to second-half goals from Thiago Silva and Hakim Ziyech. The 2-0 final scoreline reflected a dominant performance by the European champions.

In their third defeat to their west London rivals this month, Spurs were no less meek than they had been in exiting the EFL Cup at the semifinal stage. Though Harry Kane might have had cause to complain over a push on Thiago Silva that was given as a foul it was one of just four occasions in which a visiting player hit the target as Antonio Conte's switch to a 4-4-2 left his forwards starved of service.

From the outset Chelsea dominated territory and possession, registering 73 percent of the former in the first half in addition to seven shots. However few of those opening were all that clear cut, perhaps none better than the 44th second, when Romelu Lukaku skewed Mason Mount's cross over with his weaker right foot.

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All too often Chelsea's 4-3-3 found itself driving into the two banks of four Antonio Conte had deployed within touching distance of Hugo Lloris' goal. Callum Hudson-Odoi and Hakim Ziyech in particular found themselves having to charm their way through a brick wall. It did not work even if the former's dominance of Japhet Tanganga might have seen the Spurs defender sent off before the break.

Tottenham were content to play on the counter, leaving Kane and Steven Bergwijn to their own devices upfield. For a moment that approached paid off, the former picking the ball up in behind Jorginho and charging at the Chelsea backline. Ryan Sessegnon delivered a cross straight to Kane but as he slotted home Thiago Silva went sprawling to the deck. Paul Tierney judged the push to have been beyond the pale. VAR Darren England, who had earlier deemed a robust challenge by Matt Doherty on Malang Sarr to be unworthy of a red, did not intervene. One would suspect that if a goal had been awarded that decision would not have been overruled.

The contest might have changed radically had that most marginal of decisions pivoted in the other direction but it certainly would not have been reflective of a dominant performance by Chelsea, who kept Spurs back, probing for their opening as they eased to a win that moved them nine points clear of fourth-place Manchester United.

When it came it was taken in the most spectacular of fashions. As the ball broke to Ziyech on the edge of the box Sessegnon stood off, perhaps guarding against the pass into the space behind that had been so dangerous earlier in the game. Instead all he did was give the Moroccan a chance to shift the ball onto his left foot, pick his spot and stroke the ball into Hugo Lloris' top corner. For a moment it looked as if he would simply turn around, walk back to his own half and eschew any celebrations. Not doing so was the sole aesthetic blot on a wonderful goal.

From there it was a case of how many Chelsea wanted. Ziyech nearly struck another seconds later, this time fizzing an effort with the outside of his left boot that Lloris saved excellently. The Frenchman could do nothing when the goal came six minutes later, Thiago Silva rising to meet a Callum Hudson-Odoi free kick and kill off this game.

The fight was gone from everyone, even Conte, his mania dulled. For much of the second half he was looking at his shoes, a pensive hand running across his mouth. Even a smart Kane header well saved by Kepa Arrizabalaga only briefly roused him. In victory over Leicester and Watford he had been at pains to point out how the late drama illustrated that he needed more from his side. That much was blindingly apparent today. For the third time in a month his side were crushed by a vastly superior opponent. Spurs, still seventh in the tightest of races for a top-four finish, have met precious few others of such standard under their manager. They certainly do not look like they can match them.

[Jan 23, 2022 at 1:26 pm ET · James Benge]

Full time

In the end that was as easy as Chelsea could have wished for, an impressive performance from minute one to minute 90, whilst Tottenham never looked like coming close. The Blues look secure in third whilst Spurs are firmly in the fight for that final spot in behind them.

[Jan 23, 2022 at 1:17 pm ET · James Benge]

Big save from Kepa

That might have made things nervy late on. A corner from the right, Kane meets it and flicks a header at goal. Kepa gets across well to the left to parry it to safety.

[Jan 23, 2022 at 1:03 pm ET · James Benge]

An opening for Tottenham

Tottenham build something promising down the left, the ball moved infield to Hojbjerg. He spots Doherty charging into the box from the right but cannot quite weight the pass precisely enough even as it draws nervous intakes of breath from the Chelsea fans.

[Jan 23, 2022 at 1:01 pm ET · James Benge]

Conte's fight has gone

The Italian, who is about 15 feet away from me, is not barking instructions to his players as we in the first half. Instead he is altogether more reticent, raising a nervous finger as if to appeal for some form of intervention as Chelsea make an attack down his flank. He seems to have given up the fight.

[Jan 23, 2022 at 12:53 pm ET · James Benge]

One sided still

"Tottenham get battered everywhere they go" rings around Stamford Bridge. The fight seems to have gone out of the players as Reguilon is instructed to get warming up. Even Conte is not shouting as loudly or as often as he did earlier. I think this game has slipped away from Spurs.

[Jan 23, 2022 at 12:46 pm ET · James Benge]

GOAL -- That could be it

Hudson-Odoi puts a free kick in from the left. Thiago Silva meets it. The ball flies into the bottom corner. Just as Spurs were readying Skipp and Lucas to try to turn the tide the game may have been carried away from them.

[Jan 23, 2022 at 12:40 pm ET · James Benge]

Nearly another!

The ball sits up wonderfully for Ziyech as a Mount shot is blocked. This time he strikes across the ball, fizzing it away from Lloris, who does wonderfully to parry.

[Jan 23, 2022 at 12:39 pm ET · James Benge]

GOAL -- A stunner from Ziyech

That has bent an awful lot indeed. Ziyech picks the ball up on the inside right channel. No one comes out to him, Sessegnon just standing too far back. The Moroccan has space to put the ball on his left foot and fire a shot that dips and curls right into Lloris' top corner. You can feel the ball hanging in the air for a moment. Ziyech doesn't move. He knows it's in.