Tottenham Hotspur 0 v Chelsea 2 (Willian 12, 45+4 (pen) ) at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, played Saturday 21 December 2019, attendance 61,104.
The facts of the Spurs versus Chelsea intensely fought Premier London derby (PLDs) are as
above, with the opinions that: Chelsea deserved to win; 2 goal-scorer Willian was the best player on the pitch; and “the pupil”, Frank Lampard, outwitted “the master” (Jose Mourinho) with his tactics. After the Brazilian Willian’s early clear-cut goal, capitalizing on Spur’s Serge Aurier’s naïve defending, his second goal and Spurs’ Heung-Min Son’s second half sending off are matters of fact and opinion.
Paulo Gazzaniga’s goalkeeping was poor (opinion) when he went for a head high ball leading with his right foot and left hand, missed it and the oncoming Marco Alonso’s head, but collided with him with both feet off the ground. The point of contact appeared to be Alonso’s hands at chest height in Gazzaniga’s face, from my interpretation of newspaper photographs and TV footage (facts and opinion). Referee Anthony Taylor awarded Spurs a free kick, but hysterical (my opinion) appealing led to a VAR review, and a Chelsea penalty which Willian neatly tucked away. What is VAR for in such instances: to give the match day officials more visual evidence (facts) on which to review their opinion; or to enable a “fifth official” remote from the tempo, atmosphere and emotion of the game to provide another opinion based on these new facts? One newspaper’s opinion was that VAR had “rescued” the on-the-spot (sic) referee who “should not be making mistakes of such magnitude”.
A second incident was followed by a third of potentially greater importance. Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger brought down Spurs’ Heung-Min Son from behind (foul play and yellow card, facts) who climbed up Rudiger with his feet first to waist then chest height, before getting up (facts). Rudiger fell to the ground as if mortally wounded (my opinion based on TV pictures). VAR was again consulted and Son shown a red card for “violent conduct”. Whose opinion based on which facts? All of this was over shadowed minutes later by Rudiger’s reporting to his Captain of what he took to be racist verbal abuse against him, leading to activation of the FIFA protocol, and subsequently major concern in several quarters about these dreadful attitudes. So far one Chelsea fan has been identified as giving Spurs’ Son verbal racist abuse even though he was presumably off the field of play.
The Boxing Day (26 December 2019) PLDs match between Crystal Palace and West Ham United at Selhurst Park was thankfully an altogether less eventful occasion. The Eagles came from behind with second half goals from Kouyate (68 min.) and Jordan Ayew (90 min.) to beat the Hammers’ single goal from Robert Snodgrass. Ayew’s goal came with a classy turn in the penalty area to beat the visitors’ defence. Christmas joy for Roy Hodgson, and a bleak New Year for Manuel Pellegrini.
Until next time, enjoy your football and a Prosperous New Year, Andrew at PLDs.