In a night of total football display Tottenham Hotspur FC on Wednesday moved to the third place on the English Premier League (EPL) table as Dele Alli scored a brace to end Chelsea winning streak.
It was a glorious moment for Alli who was born and raised in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, to a Nigerian father Kenny and English mother Denise as he singlehandedly catapulted his club to the top three.
The 2-0 win over Chelsea ensured Arsenal remain holders of the English Premier League’s longest winning run.
Chelsea had won 13 EPL matches without a blink going into Wednesday’s encounter, a single season record first set by Arsene Wenger’s side at the end of the 2001-2002 season.
Although Arsenal did eventually win 14 consecutive games, that feat was achieved with one extra win at the start of the 2002-2003 season.
However, two powerful header from the midfielder ended Chelsea dream of matching that particular winning streak.
Chelsea is now five points clear at the summit of the EPL after a hectic Christmas and New Year period that saw rivals Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City also drop points.
“It’s a pity to stop this run,” Chelsea boss Antonio Conte told Sky Sports after the match. “But Tottenham is a good team, a really strong team and for sure one of the teams that can fight for the title until the end.”
Things could have turned out very differently at White Hart Lane had Chelsea’s Eden Hazard taken a glorious early chance.
The Belgian fluffed his lines when latching on to Nemanja Matic’s floated through ball after only four minutes.
Tottenham responded when Christian Eriksen fired wide from just outside the area.
But the Danish international was more measured when he found Alli with a pinpoint cross to open the scoring with a header from eight yards out in first half injury time.
Chelsea came out swinging at the start of the second period with Diego Costa stinging the palms of Hugo Lloris in the Tottenham goal.
However, Eriksen and Alli combined again in almost identical fashion after 53 minutes to double Spurs’ advantage.
It was a sublime finish that secured the victory and will doubtless be cheered by fans of the teams like Liverpool and Arsenal who are hoping to hunt down the Chelsea.
