Ange Postecoglou’s perfect start with Tottenham ends in chaotic defeat to Chelsea

Ange Postecoglou’s unbeaten start to life in the Premier League is over following a chaotic clash between Tottenham and Chelsea featuring red cards, VAR drama and more.

Ange Postecoglou was proud of his players despite the defeat to Chelsea. Picture: AFP

Chelsea ended nine-man Tottenham’s unbeaten start to the Premier League season as Nicolas Jackson’s hat-trick inspired a 4-1 win in a chaotic clash filled with VAR drama.

Blues boss Mauricio Pochettino was able to savour a sweet victory over Tottenham on his first return to the club since his sacking in 2019.

But the Argentine’s revenge mission was overshadowed by an incredible litany of controversial incidents including red cards for Tottenham duo Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie.

Dejan Kulusevski had given Tottenham an early lead, but Romero was dismissed for a foul that led to Cole Palmer’s equaliser from the penalty spot before half-time.

Referee Michael Oliver and the overworked VAR officials sent off Udogie soon after the break for his second booking.

Both teams had goals disallowed by VAR, while Tottenham’s misfortune also included losing England playmaker James Maddison and Dutch defender Micky van de Ven to first-half injuries.

Referee Michael Oliver shows a yellow card to Ange Postecoglou. Picture: Getty Images

Chelsea finally made the most of their numerical advantage when Senegal striker Jackson netted three times in the closing stages to hand Tottenham their first defeat in 11 league games.

Ange Postecoglou’s team remain in second place, one point behind leaders Manchester City, while Chelsea moved up to 10th place after their first win in three league games.

“It’s pretty hard to process, it’s almost impossible to analyse the game. It just seemed to get out of control for large parts of it,” Postecoglou told Sky Sports after the match.

“You’re left obviously disappointed with the result but really proud of the players’ efforts. They gave everything and I guess that’s a positive to take out of it.

“We were very close to getting an equaliser a couple of times. It goes to show their spirit and character which to be fair they’ve shown since day one. It was just a bridge too far today.”

Ange Postecoglou was proud of his players despite the defeat to Chelsea. Picture: AFP

Pochettino was given a largely warm reception by Tottenham fans in recognition of a five-year reign that included taking them to their maiden Champions League final.

But there could be no doubting his pleasure at inflicting a first league defeat on his former employers this term, especially given the extraordinary circumstances of one of the Premier League’s most incendiary matches.

Tottenham had made the perfect start in the sixth minute when Kulusevski seized on Chelsea’s slack marking to unleash a powerful shot that took a hefty deflection off Levi Colwill as it bounced past wrong-footed keeper Robert Sanchez.

Son Heung-min thought he had doubled Tottenham’s lead, but the South Korean’s close-range finish from Brennan Johnson’s cross was disallowed for offside by VAR.

Tottenham were fortunate not to be reduced to 10 men when Udogie was only booked after VAR looked at his reckless two-footed lunge on Raheem Sterling.

Sterling was denied instant revenge when his clinical finish was ruled out for the winger’s handball.

An already heated encounter approached boiling point after Romero escaped a red card for kicking out at Colwill.

It was a short-lived reprieve for Romero as the Tottenham defender saw red in the 33rd minute.

Cristian Romero was the first player to see red for Tottenham. Picture: Getty Images

When Moises Caicedo’s blast from the edge of the area beat Guglielmo Vicario, VAR ruled Jackson was offside but still came to Chelsea’s aid.

As the VAR check went on, Romero’s challenge on Enzo Fernandez just before Caicedo’s shot was adjudged to be a penalty, with the defender dismissed for his studs-up follow-through on the Chelsea midfielder’s shin.

Palmer’s spot-kick was almost saved by Vicario but it had enough power to elude his grasp as it went in via the post.

An acrimonious half finally ended after 12 minutes of stoppage time. But, down to 10 men and hamstrung by the injuries to Maddison and Van de Ven, Tottenham were on the ropes.

Udogie had flirted with a red card earlier in the game and he finally got his marching orders in the 55th minute for a crude lunge on Sterling.

That set the stage for a Chelsea siege as Spurs played a high defensive line, allowing the visitors to get behind them.

It seemed inevitable Chelsea would break through and they landed the knockout blow in the 75th minute.

Sterling raced away down the right and his cross was slotted home by Jackson from 10 yards.

Even then, Tottenham commendably kept fighting and Eric Dier was denied by a VAR-ruled offside before Rodrigo Bentancur headed inches wide and Sanchez saved from Son.

The carnage climaxed in stoppage time when Jackson fired home from Conor Gallagher’s cross, then ran clear to condemn Tottenham to a rare defeat.

Originally published as Ange Postecoglou’s perfect start with Tottenham ends in chaotic defeat to Chelsea