Chelsea have taken charge of their own destiny of qualifying for next season's Champions League, after defeating Leicester City 2-1 in their final home game in the premier league.
The win which took Chelsea into third position and one point ahead of Leicester was sealed courtesy of goals by Antonio Rudiger and a Jorginho penalty. Kelechi Iheanacho came off the bench to pull one back for the visitors.
It was the second time in four days that the two teams were meeting and Chelsea were in no mood to hangover Saturday's defeat in the FA Cup Final as they looked to ensure their passage into the Champions League next season.
As was the case in the game on Saturday, Thomas Tuchel's side started the brighter side, dominanting possession, but with the same problem, no cutting edge in the final third.
Their first opportunity at goal came as early as the third minute with Timo Werner playing in Ben Chilwell on the left side, but the former Leicester man could only manage his shot wide off goal.
Timo Werner would feel very unlucky as his goal was ruled out for being an inch offside on the 21st minute after been played through by Mason Mount.
Their next chance came in the 28th minute when Mason Mount made a great run and was able to force Kasper Schmeichel into a save on second attempt with a blistering shot headed for the roof of the net.
Chelsea were forced into an early substitution on the 32nd minute after N'golo Kante picked up an injury and signaled to the bench to be taken off. Two minutes later, Chelsea found the back of the net.
Cesar Azpilicueta picked up the pieces of a Reece James blocked shot and put a cross into the Leicester box which was met by a Timo Werner header and into the back of the net. The German's joy was again cut short after VAR reviewed and found that he assisted the ball into the net with his arm. He must be very undone by VAR.
Just three minutes before the interval, the home team should have been ahead after Mason Mount Drew two Leicester defenders and made a cut back for the on-rushing Christian Pulisic who was quickly closed down by Kasper Schmeichel into a tight angle and the ball ricocheted off the American for a goal kick.
The game was barren at the interval with Chelsea doing more of the work but unable to get a clean goal.
The hosts needed just two minutes after the break to finally get breakthrough as Antonio Rudiger bundled home a Chilwell cross which initially came off a Leicester defender. This will stand. No VAR review needed.
The home team doubled their lead on the 66th minute as they would not be denied a penalty the second time on the 65th minute after being denied one in the first half.
In what appeared to have been a kick in the back of the leg on the 18th minute, Timo Werner got his leg in front of Youri Tielemans in the Leicester box and the Belgian, while trying to clear the ball, kicked into Werner but no penalty was awarded even after VAR review.
The second was clearly given as a foul against Wesley Fofana. Replays and review by VAR showed that it happened just right inside the Leicester penalty area. Jorginho stepped up to score his seventh penalty and goal this season, making him the club's highest goalscorer in the league this campaign.
Leicester, who were hitherto not threatening found their rhythm after conceding the second goal and almost pulled one back through Kelechi Iheanacho. The Nigerian forward dragged his effort wide the right post from just outside the box on the 75th minute.
He was however more clinical just moments later in the 76th minute. Compatriot, Winfred Ndidi pressurized Matteo Kovacic close to the Chelsea box and won the ball off the Croatian. Sliding a pass straight to Iheanacho jus inside the Chelsea box, the former Manchester City man hit the ball first time into the right bottom corner to give his team a lifeline. Iheanacho has now become the first player to score on every day of the week in the premier league history.
The visitors should have been leveled just few seconds to full time. A great work down the right side of attack by Ricardo Perreira to put a cross across the Chelsea box. The ball well placed for the arriving Ayoze Perez, who could only power his effort into the stands.
In a feisty end to game, tempers were risen as Rudiger got involved with Perreira. The aftermath saw Ayoze Perez and unused substitute, Daniel Amartey booked.
Chelsea are now in pole position to seal a third place finish in the league and must win their last game against Aston Villa to ensure automatic qualification into the Champions league next season.
Leicester City may be facing a dejavu if they miss out on the Champions League again next season as their destiny no longer lies in their own hands after the loss. Should Liverpool win against Burnley today, they will be tied on points and the Reds with a slightly better goal difference may displace them if they also win their last game on Sunday.
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