Forced to play almost the entire second half a man down after Kevin Danso was controversially sent off just moments after his introduction, we were indebted to Antonin Kinsky for a handful of incredible saves as we hung in there in front of more than 80,000 fans at the Accor Stadium on Australia’s east coast.
We still carried a threat, Rio Kyerematen cracking a superb effort against the crossbar, but just as we seemed destined for a second penalty shootout in the space of four days, substitute Jamie Donley hit the post and Richarlison was on hand to slide home the rebound, making it a memorable conclusion to our trip Down Under for fans, players and staff alike.
Summer signing Sandro Tonali had earlier fired us into the lead as Roberto De Zerbi started with arguably our most senior XI of pre-season to date, but Estevao stole in to head home an equaliser for Xabi Alonso’s men just four minutes later. Tonali’s fellow new recruit Jan Paul van Hecke also played the first half for his first appearance in our colours since his summer move from Brighton.
All in all, it was a game that had a bit of everything. Challenges were flying in from the off, Conor Gallagher booked for one of them against his former side in just the 11th minute, but the quality of our play shone through and we took the lead after 17 minutes, Tonali playing the ball down the right to Manor Solomon before running onto the latter’s cut-back and firing in via a deflection off Chelsea skipper Levi Colwill.
Four minutes later, we won the ball in an advanced area and seemed well-positioned to make it 2-0 but Chelsea broke away and Jamie Gittens’ deflected cross from the left flank was nodded home at the back post by the arriving Estevao to draw the Blues level. Mathys Tel later sent a first-time shot over the bar while the retreating Ben Davies did enough to force Joao Pedro to fire off-target at the other end, Tel subsequently embarking on a dazzling solo run down our left that was only ended by Chelsea goalkeeper Teddy Sharman-Lowe at his near post.
The game changed four minutes after the restart, though, as the referee brandished a straight red card to half-time substitute Danso after he was deemed to have brought down Joao Pedro as the last defender. Chelsea had a handful of chances that followed but were unable to make any of them count – largely thanks to the brilliance of Kinsky.
After Cole Palmer flashed the resulting free-kick wide, our goalkeeper showed incredible reactions to tip Estevao’s deflected shot onto the crossbar and away before denying the same player from close range with his legs a few moments later. And on 65 minutes, Kinsky blocked with his legs once more, this time to deny Joao Pedro after the ball had hit Andy Robertson in the box.
The chances dried up for a while as both teams made changes, but we were always in the game despite the disadvantage in numbers and almost grabbed a sensational second on 84 minutes when Kyerematen – on for Robertson at left-back – finished off a great solo run by hitting the bar on his right foot from 22 yards out. Unfortunately, the 21-year-old was helped off the pitch with an apparent injury issue a few moments later, but the match ended on a positive note as we applied more pressure in the last few seconds through Archie Gray, Donley fired a low shot against the base of the post from distance and there was Richarlison to slide home the rebound and send everyone of a Spurs persuasion home happy.
Line-ups
Chelsea: Sharman-Lowe, Palestra (Watson 80), Fofana (Sarr 80), Colwill (c) (Acheampong 80), Hato (Anselmino 62), Essugo (Walsh 80), Lavia (Nicoll-Jazuli 46), Estevao (Satpayev 70), Palmer (Kellyman 80), Gittens (Adarabioyo 80), Joao Pedro (Delap 80). Substitutes (not used): Curd, Subuloye, Emenalo, Kavuma-McQueen.
Spurs: Kinsky, Gray, van Hecke (Danso 46), Davies (Takai 81), Robertson (Kyerematen 72 (Tingey 90)), Bergvall (Tye Hall 72), Tonali (Donley 81), Gallagher (Hardy 54), Solomon (Moore 67), Solanke (Richarlison 46), Tel (Williams-Barnett 76). Substitutes (not used): Dubravka, Scarlett, Tyrese Hall, Russell-Denny, Melia, Yang, Ajayi, Byrne.
Match data
Goals: Chelsea – Estevao 21; Spurs – Tonali 17, Richarlison 90+2.
Yellow card: Spurs – Gallagher 11.
Red card: Spurs – Danso 49.
Referee: Alex King.
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney.
Weather: Partly cloudy, light winds, 13 degrees.
Attendance: 80,363.