Norwich City all but ended Chelsea’s Premier League title challenge and gave themselves a fighting chance of avoiding relegation by recording a 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Norwich's Steven Whittaker (R) defends a corner in his side's 0-0 draw with Chelsea. (AFP/Ben Stansall)
Chelsea would have provisionally gone top of the table if they had won, but they will now be eliminated from the title race if either Manchester City or Liverpool win one of their last two games.
Liverpool visit Crystal Palace on Monday, while leaders City play their game in hand at home to Aston Villa on Wednesday.
It was a further blow for Jose Mourinho’s side after their elimination in the Champions League semi-finals by Atletico Madrid, although they are now assured of an automatic place in next season’s tournament.
“We had one team that needed three points to have a chance to survive, but didn’t play to win, and a team that needed a point to finish third and guarantee a Champions League group-stage place that played to win,” said Mourinho.
“I said the title chance had been gone for a few weeks. Today was a question of pride and trying to give fans a victory at home.”
Chelsea indeed bossed the game, with Andre Schurrle and David Luiz each hitting the frame of the goal, while substitute Eden Hazard had a convincing penalty appeal waved away in the second half.
The result left Norwich two points from safety, but they will effectively be relegated if Sunderland avoid defeat at home to West Bromwich Albion in mid-week.
A draw would take Sunderland three points above Norwich and Gus Poyet’s side boast a far superior goal difference.
Norwich, who had lost their five previous games, host Arsenal on the season’s final day.
“It was a phenomenal performance,” said Norwich interim manager Neil Adams.
“We’re watching results now, we’re watching other games. What we hope is that we go into the Arsenal game with an opportunity, because with that sort of commitment and sprit we have a chance.”
Chelsea manager Mourinho made five changes to the team beaten 3-1 by Atletico last Wednesday. Hazard, who told a French broadcaster after that game that Chelsea “aren’t made for playing football”, found himself on the bench.
Schurrle was one of the players drafted into the hosts’ starting XI and he had an early sight of goal on a glorious afternoon at Stamford Bridge, only to shoot straight at visiting goalkeeper John Ruddy.
Norwich winger Martin Olsson felt that he should have had a penalty when he appeared to be taken out by John Terry after prodding a shot at goal, but referee Neil Swarbrick waved play on.
Gradually, Chelsea began to make inroads. After Terry had seen a header saved by Ruddy, Schurrle went close twice within the space of three minutes.
First, he collected a pass down the inside-left channel from Nemanja Matic, cut in, and curled a shot against the post, before jagging in from the opposite flank and working Ruddy with a left-foot shot.
Bradley Johnson gave Chelsea another warning with a deflected shot that flew narrowly wide and Mourinho reacted to the torpor in his side’s ranks by sending on Hazard and Luiz at the interval.
The entrants almost made an immediate impact, with Hazard haring down the right and squaring for Branislav Ivanovic, who teed up Luiz, only for the Brazilian’s shot to cannon back off the crossbar.
Chelsea then had two strong penalty appeals turned down, first when Alexander Tettey went through the back of Schurrle and then when Hazard was forced to take evasive action by Ryan Bennett’s wild swipe.
Luiz and Willian both shot over for Chelsea, but it took a fine sliding block from Gary Cahill to prevent Robert Snodgrass putting Norwich in front.
Mourinho sent on Fernando Torres for the final stages and saw Hazard test Ruddy after wriggling past four defenders, but Johnson almost gave Norwich a last-gasp win with an injury-time header that Mark Schwarzer had to save.
Source AFP
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