FULL-TIME: Spurs 4 Chelsea 4 . . .
Robbie Keane struck a late wonder goal to earn Spurs a point in a thrilling encounter at White Hart Lane this evening.
Tottenham were never in front but showed their resilience by coming back three times in a full-bloodied contest that never let up from start to finish.
This was a fantastic advert for the Premier League, both sides playing their part, with play swinging from end to end.
In the end, the draw was the fairest result, though it did little to enhance Chelsea's title hopes.
Spurs started with the same team that lined up against the Blues at Wembley last month, with skipper Ledley King deemed fit enough to start.
The game got off to an explosive start, which few would have predicted.
It took Chelsea just three minutes to take the lead, Didier Drogba bursting into the penalty area to head home a John Terry cross.
Within two minutes, Joe Cole had slid the ball into the net after Paul Robinson had pushed out a Drogba shot, but the flag was up for offside, much to the relief of the stunned home fans.
Tottenham steadied themselves and were level on ten minutes, Jonathan Woodgate rising to head home a Jermaine Jenas free-kick.
It meant both sides had scored with their first effort on goal.
Solomon Kalou should have restored the lead, but he failed to get a touch on an inviting Joe Cole cross, the ball flashing across the face of the goal.
But the Blues did grab a second on 19 minutes, Joe Cole threading the ball through to Michael Essien, whose delicate chip from just inside the box left Robinson stranded. It was a quality finish.
Jenas then forced keeper Carlo Cudicini to get down low to hold a drive, as the Lilywhites looked for an immediate response.
It was end-to-end stuff, with both sides looking capable of scoring every time they went forward.
There were calls for Cudicini to be sent off on the half hour when he appeared to handle outside his area, but the referee did not even give a free-kick, much to the anger of the home faithful.
Drogba powered towards goal three minutes before the break, but scuffed his shot and Robinson had an easy save to make.
A minute later, Ashley Cole lunged in on Jenas, but escaped with a yellow card, as the home supporters cried out for red.
The pace of the game was unrelenting, sometimes too quick for the good of the players, but a breathless first half ended with no more goals.
Spurs started the second half well, but it was Chelsea who struck in the 52nd minute, Joe Cole lifting the ball over Robinson following a Drogba pass.
The hosts refused to lie down and, on the hour, Dimitar Berbatov rose to meet a Tom Huddlestone corner, his looping header beating the outstretched hand of Cudicini for Tottenham's second.
Robinson pushed out a Drogba free-kick minutes later, as the Blues looked to restore their two-goal cushion.
There was still no let-up, with both sides attacking at will. Robbie Keane was denied at point-blank range by Cudicini, the striker seeing his shot on the turn blocked by the visiting keeper.
Essien then drove across the face of the goal, the ball bouncing off the far post.
Midway through the second half, Steed Malbranque was set up on the edge of the area, but he sliced his shot horribly wide.
Ashley Cole attempted an audacious lob from distance following a poor Robinson clearance, but the ball drifted wide of the open goal.
It was the sort of game you did not want to end.
And, with 15 minutes to go, Spurs were level. A Keane corner arrived at the feet of Huddlestone on the edge of the area and he planted a shot into the far corner.
Aaron Lennon then fired just wide as Tottenham went in search of a winner.
But it was Chelsea who struck again 11 minutes from time. Frank Lampard played Joe Cole in and he held off the challenge of Pascal Chimbonda, before lashing the ball into the roof of the net for his second of the game.
Still Spurs refused to give up and threw everyone forward in the closing stages.
And Keane was to come up with the goods, his superb curling effort giving Cudicini no chance three minutes from time. It was the best goal of an amazing night.
Even then, Berbatov, ten yards out, was denied a winner by a brilliant Cudicini save.
SPURS (4-4-2): Robinson; Hutton, King (Bent), Woodgate, Chimbonda; Lennon, Zokora, Jenas (Huddlestone 45), Malbranque; Keane, Berbatov. Subs not used: Cerny, Dawson, Tainio.
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