Chelsea’s slim hopes of qualifying for the Champions League took a huge blow as they were held to a point by a Huddersfield side who got the result they needed to ensure they will play Premier League football for a second season.
Laurent Depoitre opened the scoring in the second half for David Wagner’s side before Marcos Alonso’s fortunate header brought the home team level. And a late Chelsea onslaught was not enough as Huddersfield held firm to get the draw.
Much will be made of Antonio Conte’s team selection as Eden Hazard and Olivier Giroud were left on the bench. Willian and Alvaro Morata returned to the starting lineup.
Chelsea dominated proceedings throughout, and should have been ahead early. Antonio Rudiger contrived to fire wide when one yard out from an open goal at the back post. The ‘Blues’ finished the first half with 77% of the possession but little else to show for it as the two sides went into the break scoreless.
Against the run of play, Huddersfield scored in controversial fashion. Willian was robbed of the ball by two players at once and claimed a foul, but none was forthcoming. The ball dropped to Mooy who picked out Depoitre between the defenders upfield. The striker striker attempted to beat the onrushing Caballero, but couldn’t, and the ‘keeper got a clattering.
With Caballero down on the ground Depoitre was left with an empty net to tap into after Rudiger’s efforts to get back were not enough. The scenes in the away end were jubilant.
There was even more luck involved in the Chelsea equaliser. The goal will go down as Alonso’s but he can’t have known much about it. Some pinball in the box saw the ball bounce off his face and in.
Back level, Chelsea had 25 minutes to push for the winner they needed. Hazard and Giroud came on to compliment Morata up front but they could do nothing to beat Jonas Lossl. The keeper made some crucial stops, including tipping an effort onto the post after an almighty scramble in the box, and Huddersfield held out heroically.
As good as the result was for the away team, it probably condemns Chelsea to Europa League football next season. Coupled with results elsewhere the gap to the top four has grown and time has all but run out for Conte and his team. He looked a sorry picture at the final whistle, unlike Wagner who was embraced by his staff as all three promoted sides from last season have stayed up.