Keane Blunts Chelsea Challenge in Thriller

If there are no more trophies to be pursued this season, Tottenham Hot spur might still take vast satisfaction from harming Chelsea's bid for the title severely. The visitors, 3-1 and then 4-3 ahead once Joe Cole had shot home in the 80th minute, were pulled back to level terms in the 88th minute by the exquisite shot that Robbie Keane bent high into the net from the left.

Chelsea are now five points adrift of the leaders Manchester United and were nearly beaten in stoppage time by a Dimitar Berbatov attempt that was saved. That harm is great enough considering the strong position held after two goals from the superb Joe Cole and the credentials of the manager Avram Grant, who made dubious substitutions, despite some slick play from his team.

It is one of the beauties of sport that it is as close as life comes to an invitation to rewrite history. This match mattered for the Premier League prospects of the visitors, but it was still an encounter shaped most by last month's Carling Cup final between the teams that was won by Tottenham. The aim for Chelsea was to ensure that the action bore no relation to events at Wembley.

The appetite went too far shortly before the interval when Ashley Cole caught Alan Hutton at shin height with a dreadful airborne lunge. The Tottenham right-back may have reacted just fast enough to reduce the degree of contact but it was still an obvious red-card offense though the referee, Mike Riley, settled for a caution. Indignation was slow to fade and as the teams went down the tunnel at half-time the Tottenham assistant manager, Gus Poyet, had his arm round the neck of Cole as he remonstrated with him.

In other phases, Chelsea showed polish. They had more verve and a better team selection, with Salomon Kalou on the left of the attack instead of a miscast Nicolas Anelka, who has a thigh injury. Chelsea also displayed the sort of flair that is generally claimed to be alien to them and the goal with which they took a 2-1 lead, for instance, was notched up with a delicate finish from Michael Essien.

There was a steep challenge here for Tottenham. Juande Ramos had selected the same starting XI that beat Chelsea in the final and, since the Spaniard is not the sort to throw himself into the nostalgia market, he must think this is his best line-up. He is just as conscious, though, that there is much to be done in the summer transfer market

By selecting Makelele and Essien in midfield Grant had appeared to put the emphasis on resilience, with Michael Ballack forced to settle for a seat among the substitutes. The real effect was to build a platform on which the visitors would display some vivacious football, and they had the lead in the third minute.

A Didier Drogba free-kick was hit into the wall and after Makelele had directed play out to the left the Ivorian was free at the far post to head in a deep cross from John Terry. That was Drogba's first Premier League goal since November 11. Chelsea threatened again soon afterwards but Joe Cole netted from an offside position after Paul Robinson parried Drogba's finish.

Tottenham, nonetheless, were level in the 12th minute. Jermaine Jenas lifted in a free-kick from the right and as Drogba elected to assist Terry with the marking of Dimitar Berbatov, Jonathan Woodgate headed home untroubled. That, even so, did nothing to undermine the perception that Chelsea were the slicker side. After 20 minutes, Joe Cole made a penetrating run before Essien got between Ledley King and Pascal Chimbonda to loft the ball over Robinson with the outside of his right foot.

Amid all the emotion and anger that would linger over Cole's foul on Hutton, Chelsea continued to be the slicker and more creative team. Joe Cole extended their advantage in the 52nd minute as he took a ball from Makelele on the right, beat Chimbonda and hit the net with a finish that broke off Robinson.

Composed moves were much rarer from Tottenham, but Chelsea cannot always be counted upon to produce their former rigour. With 61 minutes gone Tom Huddlestone, on for Jermaine Jenas, lifted a deep corner and Terry scarcely jumped as Berbatov leapt to head the ball high past Carlo Cudicini.

Tottenham should soon have been level. There was deft work from Berbatov and Keane then took his pass on the chest, but the Irishman's finish was not good enough to stop Cudicini from making a fine save. Before long, though, Essien was working his way through only to miss.