Chelsea have defeated Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 in the League Cup final at Wembley Stadium this evening to lift the first piece of silverware of the season.
© Getty Images
John Terry's strike on the brink of half time set the 2007 winners on their way, before Diego Costa's deflected shot made sure that manager Jose Mourinho laid claim to his maiden trophy since returning to Stamford Bridge 19 months ago.
The Blues received a big boost prior to kickoff with news that Manchester City, their closest challengers in the Premier League title race, had slipped up against Liverpool, and perhaps buoyed by that it was they who made the more positive start in the English capital.
However, a Ramires shot aside, which was well blocked by Jan Vertonghen, Chelsea failed to really test Hugo Lloris, who was included in the Spurs starting lineup in this competition for the first time this year.
It was Tottenham who came closest to opening the scoring inside the first 10 minutes when Christian Eriksen brushed himself down after winning a free kick and saw his attempt come back off the crossbar.
Chelsea were mounting numerous counter-attacks, and this looked to be their best way of finding a way through when Costa and Eden Hazard combined for the latter to curl a shot narrowly wide of goal.
© Getty Images
Chances were kept to a minimum for the vast majority of the opening 45 minutes, however, with Petr Cech's stop from Eriksen's angled shot 10 minutes before the interval proving to be the last of Tottenham's openings.
Just as the half looked to be edging towards a goalless conclusion, Blues skipper Terry fired home unmarked from a few yards out after Mauricio Pochettino's men failed to deal with a corner whipped into the box.
Gary Cahill could have doubled his side's advantage with seconds to go before the break, but he saw his header kept out by Lloris.
The Lilywhites, who were looking to reclaim the trophy they last won back in 2008, forced the issue in the early stages of the second period, but they were unable to find an equalising goal with Chelsea adding a decisive second 10 minutes after the restart.
© Getty Images
Costa, without a goal in four games prior to today, was the man who found the net thanks to a huge slice of luck, as the striker's shot from a tight angle deflected heavily off Kyle Walker to leave Lloris helpless between the sticks.
Spurs failed to muster up any real opportunities as they struggled to find a route back into the game, with Terry's tackle to deny Kane in the closing stages as good as it got for the remainder.
Mourinho's men had failed to keep a clean sheet in each of their last six cup finals, but there was no route back into the game for their London rivals in a somewhat flat conclusion to the contest, which saw the Blues see out the game with relative ease to stand triumphant at Wembley.
Daniel Lewis
