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Rediff.com  » Sports » Leicester win EPL for first time after Tottenham fail to beat Chelsea

Leicester win EPL for first time after Tottenham fail to beat Chelsea

Last updated on: May 03, 2016 04:00 IST
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IMAGE: Wes Morgan of Leicester City celebrates with team-mates after scoring during the Premier League match against Manchester United. Photograph: Michael Regan/Getty Images.

Leicester City won the English Premier League for the first time in the club's 132-year history after nearest challengers Tottenham Hotspur managed only a 2-2 draw away to Chelsea on Monday.

Tottenham's failure to beat Chelsea gave Leicester, 5,000-1 outsiders at the start of the season, unassailable seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League table, with only a maximum of six available to Tottenham from their final two league games this season.

Tottenham, needing to win to take the title race to the penultimate weekend of the season, were deservedly ahead at half-time through goals by Harry Kane and Son Heung-min.

But Gary Cahill halved the deficit just before the hour mark and second-half substitute Eden Hazard's 83rd-minute curler handed the title to Leicester.

With two games left Leicester are seven points clear and Tottenham, who were hoping of a first victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in 26 years, need three points to secure runners-up spot.

A bad-tempered game produced a rash of yellow cards and several players were lucky to stay on the pitch while tempers boiled over at full-time.

IMAGE: Tottenham's Christian Eriksen and teammates look dejected after Chelsea's second goal in the Premier League match at Stamford Bridge on Monday. Photograph: John SibleyLivepic/Reuters

Tottenham had already gone close with Danny Rose's pile-driver and Son curling wide before they opened up Chelsea's defence again.

Erik Lamela's clever pass found Kane just onside and the England striker kept his cool to round Asmir Begovic and slot home his 25th league goal of the season.

Tottenham doubled their lead just before halftime when Chelsea squandered possession and Christian Eriksen played in Son who guided a shot past Begovic.

Rose and Willian squared up before the interval and Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino found himself on the pitch trying to separate the players.

Chelsea sent on Hazard after the break and the Belgian playmaker gave the home side a greater threat.

Cahill stabbed home through a crowd of players to give Chelsea hope after 58 minutes Spurs were rocking.

The visitors recovered their poise, though, and substitute Ryan Mason went close to making it 3-1 before Hazard picked out the top corner with an unstoppable effort.

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