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Posted: 2017-04-05 21:22:41

Updated April 06, 2017 10:56:16

The Premier League title race is down to two, as leaders Chelsea beat Manchester City 2-1 at home, while rivals Spurs kept things alive with a late, late win over Swansea.

The Blues had given rivals Spurs an opportunity when they lost 2-1 to lowly Crystal Palace last weekend, adding tension to an already high-profile match-up at Stamford Bridge.

In a stirring night of football, five of the top six sides on the table were in action, and there were goals and drama aplenty to satisfy fans.

Manchester City started the stronger, but the Blues struck as early as the 10th minute, when N'Golo Kante's set-up work put Eden Hazard in, and the Chelsea star's shot deflected off a defender past a hapless Willy Caballero.

The goal prompted a huge roar from the Stamford Bridge crowd, and settled the nerves. It was a high-tempo game, with the visitors having plenty of possession.

Hazard was starring for Chelsea — every time he got the ball he looked dangerous — but the game was end-to-end stuff with chances for both sides.

When City equalised, it came courtesy of an error from Blues goalkeeper Courtois. He passed it straight to City's David Silva, whose shot was palmed into the path of striker Sergio Aguero, who sidefooted the ball home to silence the crowd in the 26th minute.

The visitors were full of confidence, but Chelsea hit back 10 minutes before half-time when Fernandinho clearly fouled Chelsea forward Pedro in the penalty area.

Hazard's spot-kick was saved by Caballero, but the rebound came back to the Belgian, who stuck it in the net to give the Blues a 2-1 lead which they held at half-time.

The second half saw the visitors surge forward in search of an equaliser.

Fernandinho volleyed over the bar from close range, and John Stones had a couple of big chances, but City could not make the breakthrough, putting Chelsea still in control of their title destiny with eight games left.

In South Wales, Spurs were given a huge fright by cellar-dwellers Swansea.

They went behind to an early goal to Wayne Routledge, and for much of the game they struggled to break down the Swans' defence.

As news of Chelsea's lead filtered through, the pressure rose on Mauricio Pochettino's men, and their hopes were slipping away.

But a lucky equaliser in the 88th minute — with a deflected shot falling perfectly for Dele Alli to tap in — kickstarted a frenzied final few minutes.

The visitors then hit the front after a long ball found Son Heung-Min who slotted Spurs' second in added time, and Christian Eriksen added a third to seal the win.

The gap to Chelsea remains seven points, with the advantage firmly in the Blues' court.

At Anfield, Liverpool proved once again that playing teams in the bottom half of the league remains their Achilles heel, with the Reds drawing 2-2 with Bournemouth.

A defensive error let Benik Afobe in for the opener in the seventh minute to stun the home crowd.

Liverpool hit the front with goals to Philippe Coutinho and Divock Origi, but despite having chances the Reds could not put the game away and the Cherries equalised with just four minutes left through Joshua King.

Arsenal made up ground on the Reds with a 3-0 win over West Ham at home, while Southampton came from behind to beat Crystal Palace 3-1 and Hull City won a relegation zone clash with Middlesbrough, defeating the Teesiders 4-2.

Topics: sport, soccer, english-premier, england

First posted April 06, 2017 07:22:41

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