CHELSEA SUBSTITUTE EDEN Hazard’s stunning late goal earned Chelsea a 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur on Monday that completed Leicester City’s fairytale quest for the Premier League title.
With Leicester’s players reportedly gathered at the home of striker Jamie Vardy to watch the match, goals from Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min at Stamford Bridge appeared to have set Spurs up for a victory that would have kept their title hopes alive.
But after Gary Cahill had reduced the arrears in the 58th minute of a stormy affair, Hazard met Diego Costa’s pass with a first-time shot into the top-right corner in the 83rd minute to send hordes of supporters in Leicester, as well as their millions of new admirers around the world, into raptures.
Claudio Ranieri’s side, 5,000-1 title outsiders who narrowly avoided relegation last season, can now look forward to a title party at their King Power Stadium home when Everton visit on Saturday.
They are England’s first new title-winners since Brian Clough’s Nottingham Forest 1978 and their surge to glory in the world’s most-watched football championship will go down as one of the most improbable feats in sporting history.
Their previous best season in the English top flight was a second-place finish in 1929 and their last piece of silverware had been the 2000 League Cup.
Mauricio Pochettino’s young Spurs team needed to win all three of their final games to stand any chance of claiming a first league title since 1961, but having been held 1-1 by West Bromwich Albion on their previous outing, they failed to close out victory again.
(If you can’t play the video, click here)
Ranieri had never previously won a league title and was sacked by Chelsea in 2004, but chants of “There’s only one Ranieri!” rang around the game as the final whistle approached.
Bringing the story of his association with the Premer League full circle, the 64-year-old Italian will return to Stamford Bridge for his miracle team’s final game of the season on May 15.
Hazard, last season’s Player of the Year, had scored the goal that brought Chelsea the title a year previously and after a dismal campaign, he resurfaced to write another chapter in English football history.
Spurs, meanwhile, could face disciplinary action from the Football Association after midfielder Mousa Dembele appeared to eye-gouge Diego Costa in one of several fractious incidents.
Fair play to him.
This is truly an amazing thing to do , but it’s just another on a long list of things that he does for people outside of football. He came from a very poor background and has never forgotten that or what it’s like to be less off. Hopefully this will put the begrudgers back in their boxes for abit.
Pretty amazing thing to do considering those big golden balls would be standout pieces in his trophy cabinet at home. Probably could get someone to make a replica if he was so inclined. Fair play.
Class act. Really has gone on to greater things in his personal and sporting life ever since he left United. Well done CR7 !!
@Mrs. Nugent: So he couldn’t have done this while still playing for Man United?
@Mrs. Nugent: this is an unbelievable gesture helping children with life threatening medical conditions. There is no need to have a swipe at a football club just because you dislike them. Really shows the type of person you really are nee nee, alan b, jamie, or whatever your latest name you’re hiding behind.
@An Observer: in fairness Ronaldo stepped up a couple of levels after leaving United.If he had to have stayed at United he’d probably have ended up like Rooney
@Ardmore02: Ronaldo is the current best in the world of not of all time and his generosity knows no bounds but I’d say even he still has a sense of humour
@Jamie: You’re like that movie ‘Split’, you just don’t know which account is gonna reply
@Stephen Lyons: you’re mad if you think I’ve several accounts
@Ardmore02: he’s just a trolling child that can’t help himself
@Mrs. Nugent: couldn’t resist the opportunity to have a dig at United eh Marcus? I’ve also seen many snide remarks from you about Ronaldo on the 42 in recent times. This makes you a total hypocrite as well as a sad and pathetic individual. Get a life.
@Jamie: That’s all i meant.
@Ardmore02: An unbelievable gesture is something maybe Princess Diana / Mother Theresa done their whole life’s. A multi millionaire donating a trophy ball, UNBELIEVABLE. What a bell end you really are. You’re starting to get a fetish for Ronaldo similar to sloppysloop has with beachboys. I said a nice thing dont be so paranoid.
@Mrs. Nugent: a nice thing? Total opposite to what you’ve said before. Like I said….hypocrite. you have so many accounts Marcus that you can’t keep track of what you’re saying. Must be time for Mrs. Nugent to disappear and yet another new account to open in its place. I pity the fool :-)
Have to admit I always preferred Messi as a footballer, but credit to Ronaldo. .. that’s pretty classy.
Legend
Good lad Ronny. Hopefully not too much of his generosity goes to the ceo’s