«London Derby»: Tottenham beats Chelsea in the 90+2nd minute

18:03 / 01.08.2026·39·Sport

The pre-season friendly match in Sydney, Australia, gave fans a true taste of English Premier League intensity and drama. Clashing at the famous Stadium Australia, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur saw the 10-man «Spurs» snatch victory in the dying seconds.

Captured the attention of millions of Blues and Spurs fans alike, the match ended in a 1-2 scoreline, going down in history as one of the tour's most intense encounters.

1. Early goals and a sensational debut: Tonali and Estevao strike back

The match started at a high tempo and with intense attacks from the opening minutes. Despite being a pre-season preparation fixture, the two London clubs offered an uncompromising battle on the pitch.

17th minute (0:1): Tottenham's new signing, midfielder Sandro Tonali, showcased his skills right from his debut games for the club. With a quick counter-attack and a precise shot, Tonali opened the scoring to put the «Spurs» ahead.
21st minute (1:1): Chelsea responded almost immediately. Talented Brazilian forward Estevao took advantage of a defensive error, restoring parity and putting 1:1 on the scoreboard.

The first half thus ended in a hard-fought draw at a blistering tempo.

2. Pitch tension: Danso's red card and Tottenham's resilience

The script of the game took a sharp turn right at the start of the second half. In the 49th minute, Tottenham defender Kevin Danso was shown a straight red card by the referee for a rough challenge.

With Ange Postecoglou's side reduced to 10 men, they were forced to defend solidly and rely on counter-attacks for over 40 minutes. Meanwhile, despite their numerical advantage, Chelsea struggled to break down the opponent's defense.

3. 90+2nd minute drama: Richarlison's decisive strike

Just when the match seemed destined for a draw, Tottenham showed true grit during stoppage time.

Finishing off a quick counter-attack in the 90+2nd minute, Brazilian forward Richarlison slotted home past the Blues' goalkeeper to secure a dramatic victory for his 10-man side.

Match protocol:

Chelsea — Tottenham Hotspur — 1:2
Goals: Sandro Tonali 17' (0:1), Estevao 21' (1:1), Richarlison 90+2' (1:2).
Red card: Kevin Danso 49' (Tottenham).
Venue: Stadium Australia (Sydney).

4. Review of last season and new season's opening tests

For both clubs, this game served as an important foundation to test their condition ahead of the new campaign. Based on the results of the previous 2024/2025 season:

Chelsea finished 10th in the table with 52 points.
Tottenham had a difficult campaign, ending up in 17th position with 41 points.

On matchday 1 of the new Premier League season, the Blues will visit Fulham away on August 24. The Spurs will travel to Brentford on August 22.

Conclusion

The «London Derby» in Sydney proved once again that pre-season fixtures are about much more than just friendliness. By snatching victory a man down, Tottenham showed they are mentally prepared for the new season, while Chelsea's failure to capitalize on their numerical advantage serves as a vital warning ahead of upcoming matches.

Do you think Chelsea and Tottenham can break into the top four in the new EPL season? Leave your predictions in the comments!