Andre Villas-Boas will want to forget this game quite quickly, after promising so much in the early part of a second half that will remain in memory for quite a while.
Chelsea showed exactly why they are topping the table and dominating the English Premier League, by quite some distance, with a searing performance against their London rivals Tottenham Hotspur in a 4-2 victory.
Juan Mata was at his absolute best, scoring two and setting up one as the Blues came back from 2-1 down to topple Spurs and go seven points clear in the standings.
The little Spaniard, who wasn't even involved for Spain in the World Cup qualifiers, scored two goals - the equalizer and the winner - with Gary Cahill and Daniel Sturridge getting the other two. William Gallas and Jermain Defoe netted for Spurs, with the latter's goal at one point in time looking like a precious winner and much-wanted vindication for Villas-Boas.
The much talked about game began at White Hart Lane, with the Blues in total control - Spurs looking like the away team, chasing Chelsea shadows rather than the home team that should have been controlling possession.
Whatever might have been said about the new-look Chelsea side -- when they gel, they are a sight to behold, and there were moments in the first half when the trio of playemakers - Mata, Eden Hazard and Oscar - looked like they would run away with the game.
However, the goal came from an unexpected source. William Gallas - at fault for two of Chelsea's goals - failed to clear the ball far enough off a corner, with the ball falling to Cahill at the top of the box. In a finish that would have put even the best of striker's to shade - albeit aided by the slightest of deflections - the central defender smashed the ball into the top middle of the net, giving Friedel, who was well placed, no chance purely because of the pace of the strike.
Spurs lacked the bite in midfield, giving away possession too easily, which in turn allowed Chelsea to keep control of the game - the home side were clearly missing the services of Moussa Dembele and Gareth Bale, who was a late withdrawal after his partner went into labour.
Mata, despite scoring two later on, was at fault for missing a golden chance to make it 2-0. His first shot was well saved by Friedel - expectedly preferred to Hugo Lloris - but the rebound, which fell kindly to Mata, was fired over with the keeper well out of position.
Clint Dempsey, who did not have one of his better games, missed a couple of chances late on as Chelsea went into half-time 1-0 ahead.
If the White Hart Lane faithful expected a different Spurs side to come out in the second half, they were not left disappointed. A visibly rejuvenated Tottenham completely dominated the first 10-15 minutes of the second period, turning the game around on its head with two goals in the space of the first ten minutes.
Gallas glanced in a header off a hook-back from Jan Vertonghen in the far post in the 47th minute, much to the delight of the former Blues defender - making amends for his mistake in conceding the goal.
Spurs went 2-1 up six minutes later -Defoe expertly slotting the ball past Cech off a pacy cross-shot from Aaron Lennon.
If Roberto Di Matteo wanted a response to the setback from his players, he got it and how! Chelsea, kept their calm, Ramires and John Obi Mikel taking back control of central midfield, which in turn allowed the trio of playmakers and the hardworking Fernando Torres to repeatedly test the Spurs backline.
The equalizer came in the 66th minute, Mata latching onto another poor clearance from Gallas to guide it into the bottom corner. The Spanish international - the reigning Chelsea player of the year - put his side back in front three minutes later, calmly finishing off a brilliant through ball from Hazard.
Spurs looked deflated after throwing away their advantage, and despite some half-chances, never really looked like finding the equalizer, with Chelsea looking more likely to increase their lead on the counter. That happened in the final minute of normal time - substitute Daniel Sturridge slotting the ball into an open net after a nice pass from Mata.
Di Matteo will be delighted to get one over his former boss, but happier to extend his side's lead at the top of the table.
