The Blues made a bright start, opening the scoring inside four minutes when Mheuka found the net - his 25th goal of the season across all competitions.
Chelsea continued to create chances and looked in control for long spells, striking the woodwork on multiple occasions through Mheuka and Jesse Derry. Despite our dominance, we went into the break 1-0 ahead after a strong first-half display.
After the restart, Tottenham gradually grew into the game and levelled through Mason Melia early in the second half.
Buoyed by the equaliser, Spurs then took the lead for the first time when Reiss Russell-Denny struck with 15 minutes of normal time remaining. With two minutes left, Leo Black added a third to make it 3-1 and put the result beyond doubt.
Despite our efforts in the closing stages, there was no way back and the Blues were left heartbroken at full-time as our play-off campaign came to an end.
Marking our territory
Chelsea made a lively start to this London derby, wasting no time in asserting ourselves in this knockout fixture by taking the lead inside the opening four minutes. The move began with a powerful surge from our right-back, who threaded a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Shumaira Mheuka. The striker took it in stride before firing a clinical finish into the top corner, leaving Carey Bloedorn with no chance and giving the Blues an early advantage.
We continued to look sharp, applying sustained pressure on the Spurs back line in search of a second. Reggie Walsh combined well with winger Derry, who drove forward and unleashed a powerful strike from distance that looked destined for the net, only to crash against the underside of the crossbar and bounce clear, handing the visitors a fortunate escape.
The tempo remained high, with Chelsea firmly on the front foot. Genesis Antwi cut the ball back for Ollie Harrison, who picked out Derry once more. The winger curled a superb effort towards goal, but it rebounded off the far post. Mheuka reacted quickest in the centre of the box, only to see his follow-up strike crash against the crossbar - two chances denied by the woodwork in a relentless spell of pressure.
Walsh continued to drive the team forward from midfield, going close himself with a sweeping effort from close range that was well saved by Bloedorn, who remained busy between the posts.
As the half-hour mark approached, the pressure did not relent. Walsh and Mheuka combined neatly in a one-two, allowing the striker to unleash a venomous strike that drifted just wide, letting Spurs off once again. Kiano Dyer was next to try his luck, striking powerfully from distance, but his effort also drifted off target.
Spurs’ only real opportunity of the first half came late on, when former Chelsea player Russell-Denny delivered a floated ball into the area. Defender James Rowswell met it with a flicked header that struck the crossbar, providing Max Merrick with a let-off.
Chelsea headed into the break firmly on top, having produced a dominant and controlled first-half performance, holding a deserved one-goal advantage over London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
Drama unfolds
We began the second period brightly, with Derry once again at the heart of the action. The winger drove forward with intent and, after breaking into the penalty area, drilled a low strike that forced Bloedorn into a sharp save.
However, Spurs found a way back into the contest after being handed a lifeline. Landon Emenalo brought down substitute James Wilson inside the area, leaving the referee with no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Striker Melia stepped up. Although Merrick produced an excellent save, the forward reacted quickest to the rebound to slot home and bring the sides level.
We continued to push for a response. Genesis Antwi delivered a dangerous, whipped cross into the area, where Landon Emenalo rose well to meet it, but his header drifted over the bar.
Derry remained a constant threat out wide, driving at the defence in search of a breakthrough. The winger unleashed a powerful effort from distance that was on target, but it stung the gloves of the Spurs keeper, who reacted well to hold firm.
Late blow for the Blues
Tottenham took the lead for the first time in the match through former Blue Russell-Denny. The goal came from a swift counter-attack, with Black squaring the ball into the midfielder, who struck cleanly from the edge of the area to make it 2-1.
Despite pushing for an equaliser, Chelsea were dealt another blow late on. With just two minutes of normal time remaining, Spurs struck again on the counter. Wilson broke down the flank before delivering a cross into the box, where Black was perfectly positioned to fire past Merrick and extend the lead to 3-1.
Eight minutes of added time gave the Blues a final opportunity and we continued to press until the end. However, time ultimately ran out, confirming our exit from the Premier League 2 play-offs at the quarter-final stage and bringing the 2025/26 season to a close.
The teams
Chelsea (4-3-3): Max Merrick; Genesis Antwi, Harrison Murray-Campbell, Kaiden Wilson, Landon Emenalo; Ollie Harrison, Kiano Dyer, Reggie Walsh (Chizaram Ezenwata 77); Leo Cardoso (Mathis Eboue 76), Shumaira Mheuka (c), Jesse Derry
Unused subs: Hudson Sands, Justin Osagie, Samuel Rak-Sakyi
Scorer: Mheuka 4
Booked: Dyer 11, Wilson 35, Emenalo 55, Cardoso 61, Ezenwata 90+4, Murray-Campbell 90+8