Re-live the incredible scenes at Stamford Bridge in May 2018
- Flashback to Huddersfield Town’s 1-1 draw at Chelsea in 2018
- Draw secured the Club’s Premier League status
- Watch the full 90 minutes on #HTTV!
You don’t need any excuse to re-live this one! We look back at Huddersfield Town’s memorable 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the Club’s penultimate game of the 2017/18 Premier League season, on this day two years ago.
The Terriers secured their Premier League status for another year following a dramatic evening at the home of the previous season’s Champions.
David Wagner’s side had gone into the midweek encounter in the Capital with plenty of confidence having got a point against Champions Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium three days earlier.
Wagner made a trio of changes from that battling performance in East Manchester, as Philip Billing, Rajiv van La Parra and Laurent Depoitre all came into the side for the game against the Blues.
Town went into the game in West London knowing that a point would mathematically secure the Club’s Premier League status with a game to spare in its first season back in the top-flight since 1971/72.
But Chelsea had their own aspirations to play for. Antonio Conte’s side were looking to boost their hopes of gaining Champions League football for next term, in their last home outing of the campaign.
The Blues nearly got off to the perfect start in pursuit of that, as defender Antonio Rudiger missed from close range, moments before Alvaro Morata did just too much having gone around Town ‘keeper Jonas Lössl.
Town got to half-time with some resilient defending but without much to shout about at the other end, registering no shots on goal in the first 45, as the score remained deadlocked at the break.
When the Terriers did produce their first effort on the Chelsea goal on 51 minutes, the travelling Terriers found themselves in dreamland in the Shed End.
It was Christopher Schindler who cut out a dangerous looking attack from the hosts, dispossessing Willian before laying the ball off to Aaron Mooy in midfield.
Having set himself, Mooy found Laurent Depoitre with a lofted ball over the top, and after beating Chelsea ‘keeper Willy Caballero to the ball, the striker calmly placed it over Rudiger and into an empty net to give the Terriers the lead at Stamford Bridge!
Having only needed a point prior to the game, the goal gave the Terriers an extra level of security to play with as they attempted to secure Premier League status for another campaign.
The hosts wiped that out less than 10 minutes later however, in unusual circumstances, as Mathias Zanka’s clearance came back off the face of Marcos Alonso and found its way into the net to level the game back up.
Despite conceding, Town re-grouped and put on a strong defensive showing over the course of the final 30 minutes.
After a goalmouth scramble, the ball fell to Chelsea defender Andreas Christiansen who produced a header that looked to be drifting just inside the post before a spectacular one-handed save from Lössl, pushing it on to the woodwork to keep the scores level.
Despite their disbelief at the save, the hosts continued to come back at the Terriers with Morata producing another stop from Lössl before Olivier Giroud’s acrobatic effort strayed wide of the target.
Those opportunities turned out to be the hosts’ last real openings in the game as Town held firm, seeing out the closing stages that included six minutes of stoppage time, to secure Premier League safety.
Lee Mason’s final whistle sparked incredible scenes on the pitch, in the technical area and in the stands as the Club had clinched survival ahead of the final game of the season at home to Arsenal.
Following the match, defender Christopher Schindler expressed his delight at the Club securing its Premier League status.
“It’s just unbelievable. It’s going to need a few days or weeks until it’s going to sink in. To get a point here as well (as at Man City) is unbelievable,” Schindy said.
“Everybody was helping each other out. In a few games this season we couldn’t show it, but it’s amazing to see that we have played solid at the back against the big teams as well.
“I’m just happy for this team, for this Club and for every single one who is travelling week in, week out to support this Club because this is something I haven’t seen before.”
Town Head Coach David Wagner also looked back on the game in his post-match press conference.
“This achievement for our football club is just incredible. We did it on our own, we didn’t rely on any other results and this week with City, Chelsea and Arsenal, this is just unbelievable,” he said.
“I’m so proud that the players have done it on their own. I’m happy for my players, my backroom staff and the supporters today who were part of this game.
“Part of the Huddersfield Town DNA is to try it, to have passion, desire and it doesn’t count how big you are. You only have to try it and to try everything.”
Re-live an iconic night at Stamford Bridge below, on #HTTV!
