Harry Kane scored twice as Tottenham overwhelmed Chelsea 5-3 in an electrifying london derby on Thursday to enhance its top-four credentials while ensuring its neighbor's English Premier league lead was wiped out.
Such was the frenzied nature of the game, the most significant result of Mauricio Pochettino's first season at Tottenham looked uncertain until the closing stages, with goals gifted by both teams. Even sweeter for Spurs was the win taking them above north london rival Arsenal into fifth place, only two points from the top four. "With a victory like today you can improve quicker," Pochettino said. "We have improved a lot in the last months. We are stronger now."
Having started 2015 with a three-point lead, Chelsea became level with Manchester City after the champions beat Sunderland 3-2, separated in the standings only by alphabetical order.
Although Diego Costa put Chelsea in front, Kane leveled with his first goal on the half-hour, while Danny Rose and Andros Townsend's penalty gave Tottenham a halftime lead.
"We made some defensive mistakes," said Mourinho, whose side was held by Southampton on Sunday. "Plus we were unlucky in every rebound and deflected shot."
Hazard darted past Rose and was denied by the post, but Oscar sent the ball back across the face of goal and Costa was primed to tap into the net. But the impetus was soon with Tottenham again after another moment of individual quality from this breakthrough season for Harry Kane.
Chelsea and City have the same goal difference, and both have 44 goals in 20 games.