Spurs hold Chelsea

Zola (left) celebrates his superb goal for Chelsea

Chelsea 1-1 Spurs

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Spurs held on for a draw against Chelsea to win their first point at Stamford Bridge since November 1995.

The first half was particularly outstanding, with numerous chances at both ends testing the ability of goalkeepers Kasey Keller and Carlo Cudicini.

Dean Richards and Robbie Keane had both failed fitness tests prior to kick-off but Teddy Sheringham gave Glenn Hoddle's under-strength team the lead.

The irrepressible Gianfranco Zola equalised with a brilliant free-kick shortly before half-time and, as the match wore on, Chelsea seemed the more likely winners.

Key moments

15 mins: Cudicini saves from Davies

17 mins: Sheringham puts Spurs in front

20 mins: King clears off the line

40 mins: Zola spectacularly equalises

Having snatched a late victory over Leeds on Tuesday Chelsea looked for a repeat performance but Spurs, who lost to a last-minute goal against Newcastle on Wednesday, defended superbly.

The match began at a frenetic pace, with Zola heavily involved.

Anthony Gardner blocked from Zola after six minutes and Kasey Keller saved again after the diminutive Italian smashed the rebound at goal.

Simon Davies should have opened the scoring for Spurs when he found himself unmarked in the Chelsea area after 16 minutes, but his shot was saved by Cudicini.

I thought we caused them more problems than they caused us

Glenn Hoddle

However, Spurs were soon ahead after the Chelsea defence was caught static.

Darren Anderton picked out Sheringham from the left and the veteran striker converted from short range.

Gustavo Poyet then forced a brilliant save from Cudicini with a drilled strike after a cheeky Sheringham stepover had created the opening.

Gianfranco Zola has a robot-controlled foot

Chelsea coach Claudio Ranieri

Chelsea responded through Frank Lampard, who forced an athletic save from Keller. The rebound broke to Boudewijn Zenden, whose shot was remarkably cleared off the line by Ledley King.

Minutes later Gardner limped off with a pulled hamstring and, five minutes before half-time, Chelsea equalised.

Zola left Keller helpless with an exquisite right-footed free-kick from a tight angle 25 yards from goal.

Lampard almost put Chelsea in front shortly after the resumption of play, but his volley took a slight deflection and drifted inches wide of the Spurs goal with Keller stranded.

Keller then denied Jesper Gronkjaer and as Eidur Gudjohnsen pursued the rebound Gardner appeared to foul him but referee Paul Durkin waved play on.

Gudjohnsen has another excellent match for Chelsea

Gronkjaer, impressive against Mauricio Taricco, created another shooting chance for Zola, but the Italian uncharacteristically dragged his shot wide from 15 yards.

Keller then made a superb double save, first to deny Gudjohnsen and then substitute Mario Melchiot.

With Chelsea enjoying most of the possession and pushing forward in search of a winner, boss Claudio Ranieri introduced Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

But Spurs - even without Gardner - defended superbly and held on for a fully deserved draw.

And substitute Matthew Etherington might have won the game for Spurs but snatched at his shot and Cudicini easily saved.

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Chelsea: Cudicini, Gallas, Desailly, Terry, Le Saux (Hasselbaink 72), Gronkjaer (Cole 87), Petit, Lampard, Zenden (Melchiot 45), Zola, Gudjohnsen.
Subs Not Used: de Goey, Morris.

Booked: Petit.

Tottenham: Keller, Carr, King, Gardner (Doherty 37), Taricco, Anderton, Bunjevcevic, Poyet, Davies, Sheringham, Iversen (Etherington 79).
Subs Not Used: Sullivan, Freund, Acimovic.

Booked: Taricco.

Attendance: 41,384

Referee: P Durkin (Dorset).