Spurs draw first blood over Chelsea in League Cup

Tottenham Hotspur edged closer to a first title in over a decade with a slim 1-0 victory over Chelsea in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg at Wembley.

The Lilywhites have not won a silverware of any kind since clinching the EFL Cup in 2008.

Harry Kane’s first-half penalty gave Spurs a slender advantage ahead of the return leg at Stamford Bridge.

Referee Michael Oliver awarded the 26th-minute spot-kick after thorough consultation with the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) for offside and keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga’s foul on the England skipper.

Both sides were guilty of squandering chances in a strongly fought contest.

Maurizio Sarri will be confident of turning things around in a fortnight on Thursday, 24 January after encouraging signs in the match, though.

The Blues struck the woodwork twice in the first half through N’Golo Kante and Callum Hudson-Odoi.

Chelsea faithful will be hoping they don’t ruin those missed chances in the corresponding fixture.

Andreas Christensen also missed a glaring opportunity from six yards after the break while Arrizabalaga produced a fine save from Kane as this semi-final remains in the balance.

The victory means Tottenham have won three successive games against Chelsea in all competitions for the first time since a run of five between March 1961 and September 1963.

The Blues, meanwhile, have failed to return from their last three trips to Wembley triumphantly.

Both sides are aiming to catch Liverpool – the record champions with eight.

Spurs have won the accolade four times and finished as runner-up the same number of time.

Chelsea, on the other hand, has one more than their London neighbours but one less second-place.