Andre Villas-Boas's reunion with his former mentor Jose Mourinho ended with honours even as John Terry's header gave Chelsea a point at WhiteHart Lane.
Gylfi Sigurdsson ensured Tottenham had the first-half lead their dominance deserved but Chelsea were revitalised by the introduction of Juan Mata at half-time and Terry's equaliser came as he headed home the Spaniard's free-kick after 65 minutes.
Chelsea striker Fernando Torres was unluckily sent off with nine minutes left after receiving a second yellow card from referee Mike Dean following an aerial challenge with Spurs defender Jan Vertonghen - the conclusion of a lengthy battle between the pair, especially in the second half.
Spurs boss Villas-Boas and Mourinho were once close confidantes as they worked together at Porto, Chelsea and Inter Milan but the current frosty nature of a relationship that has broken down was reflected in their lukewarm pre-match handshake.
And both had to settle for a point after a game that was high on energy but short of the winning goal both managers so desperately wanted after a tense affair.
Mourinho gave Torres the main attacking role with Samuel Eto'o on the bench - where he was joined by Mata.
Chelsea's £30m signing Willian, snatched away from Spurs as he was on the brink of completing a move to White Hart Lane, was not even on the bench as he continues to be on the margins of Mourinho's team.
And it was the player Villas-Boas turned to after the loss of Willian, Christian Eriksen, who was the main creative force in a first half in which Spurs took control.
READ MORE: http://news.naij.com/48385.html
READ MORE: http://news.naij.com/48385.html
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