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Antonio Conte and Thomas Tuchel sat off, fight, video, reaction, Tottenham vs Chelsea, score, Harry Kane goal

Harry Kane snatched a 96th minute equalizer to salvage a 2-2 draw for Tottenham from a feisty London derby against Chelsea.

Both managers Antonio Conte and Thomas Tuchel were sent-off after the full-time whistle for their second physical altercation of the match.

Chelsea looked set to get a new era at Stamford Bridge off to the best possible start as they twice led through Kalidou Koulibaly and Reece James.

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Ben Davies (R) celebrates with Ivan Perisic (C) after Harry Kane scores their late equaliser.  (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)
Ben Davies (R) celebrates with Ivan Perisic (C) after Harry Kane scores their late equaliser. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)Source: AFP

Tottenham were well off the level required if they are to live up to hopes of challenging Manchester City and Liverpool for the title, but showed the newfound character instilled by Conte to fight back for a point.

The Italian and Tuchel were both booked in the aftermath of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s first equaliser.

Tempers then flared again during a handshake after Kane hesitated in with virtually the last action of the game.

“It is the Premier League and why we love it. It is emotional coaches on the sidelines,” said Tuchel.

“I think it (the red card) was not necessary. But a lot of things were not necessary today so it is another poor decision from the referee.

“It’s emotional. You like it. We don’t need comments now. It was heated up and heated up.

“I thought when you shake hands you look into each other’s eyes. Antonio (Conte) had other ideas.”

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Antonio Conte (R) and Thomas Tuchel (L) shake hands then clash. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)Source: AFP
The game finished 2-2. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)Source: AFP

Tottenham have still only won once at Stamford Bridge in 32 years in the league, but Conte will be delighted to escape with a share of the spoils against his former club.

“There is a difference between Chelsea and Tottenham but we are here to reduce this gap,” said the Italian. “Last season we lost three times, this time we drew so it’s a little step forward.”

New Chelsea chairman Todd Boehly was welcomed by a huge banner from the Chelsea support and saw an early return on the near £170 million ($206 million) investment in the transfer market since he sanctioned a £2.5 billion takeover to buy the club from Roman Abramovich .

Despite the drastic changes in the boardroom, on the field it was like the old times under Abramovich as Chelsea outthought, outplayed and outmuscled Spurs for the first 45 minutes.

Two of their new signings combined for the opening goal as it was from Marc Cucurella’s corner that Koulibaly found space to volley home.

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Conte again resisted the temptation to start any of his six new signings, but it was not until the introduction of Richarlison just before the hour mark and a switch of formation that Tottenham began to threaten.

Kane had a glorious chance to level when he uncharacteristically dragged wide with only Edouard Mendy to beat.

Spurs did level 22 minutes from time in controversial fashion to light the spark between the two managers.

Kai Havertz looked to be clearly fouled by Rodrigo Bentancur before Tottenham broke forward and the ball eventually fell to Hojbjerg to fire low and hard past Mendy.

Tuchel reacted furiously to the decision and Conte’s overzealous celebration. The German fought fire with fire as he sprinted down the touchline to celebrate when James thrashed home Raheem Sterling’s pass to restore Chelsea’s lead 13 minutes from time.

However, Kane had the final say as he flicked in Ivan Perisic’s corner deep into added time.

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FOREST CELEBRATE HOMECOMING IN STYLE

Earlier, Nottingham Forest celebrated their first home game in the Premier League for 23 years by beating West Ham 1-0.

The two-time European champions have made 14 new signings in a bid to maintain their top-flight status and two of those making their home debuts were the heroes as Taiwo Awoniyi scored the only goal and Dean Henderson saved Declan Rice’s penalty.

Forest had fortune on their side as the Hammers also had a first-half goal controversially ruled out and hit the underside of the crossbar twice after the break through Pablo Fornals and Said Benrahma.

But that mattered little to a capacity 30,000 crowd at the City Ground, who roared the home side over the line.

West Ham have now lost both their opening two games of the season, but in stark contrast to a 2-0 defeat to Manchester City last weekend, they should have taken at least a point back to London.

Taiwo Awoniyi of Notts Forest celebrates scoring the first goal (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

Benrahma’s cool finish from Rice’s pass was ruled out after a VAR review for a foul by Michail Antonio as he blocked off Moussa Niakhate.

On top of nearly £100 million in transfer fees, Forest have splashed out a reported £200,000-a-week to secure Jesse Lingard on a one-year deal.

Lingard had been long linked with a return to West Ham after a successful loan spell in the 2020/21 season.

And he played a part in the winner as his shot was blocked by Ben Johnson but rebounded in off Awoniyi’s knee.

Bar a Brennan Johnson goal that was ruled out by VAR for offside, it was the visitors who had all the best chances after the break.

Fornals smashed an effort of the bar seconds into the second period before Benrahma did likewise from a nearly inch-perfect free-kick.

Rice had the best chance of all from the spot after Scott McKenna handled Tomas Soucek’s effort.

However, Henderson made himself an instant hero by diving low to his right to save the penalty.

More desperate defending was needed by Neco Williams to clear Kurt Zouma’s header off the line late on, but Forest held out for a famous win

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AFL: ‘Reaching my prime’: Star GWS Giants forward Jesse Hogan excited for future

Reborn spearhead Jesse Hogan’s emergence from a difficult few seasons is complete, with a new two-year deal the reward for his best campaign since 2018.

The star Giants forward booted a season-high four goals last week in a best-on-ground performance as they put a disastrous derby defeat to the Swans behind them to take down Essendon in Sydney.

Hogan is up to 30 goals from 16 games this season, and 50 from 25 overall since crossing to Greater Western Sydney on a one-year deal after a somewhat tumultuous end at Fremantle.

Another one-season, prove-it-to-us pact followed his first year with the Giants but now the ex-Demons prodigy has security again amid what he describes as the “most consistent” football of his life.

As pleasing for the 27-year-old as his goal tally is how many matches he has played this season, after managing no more than 12 in any of the past three years, when foot and soft-tissue setbacks besieged him.

Former coach Leon Cameron and the Giants’ high performance team hatched a pre-season plan for Hogan to rest twice this year either side of the mid-season bye, which has worked wonders for him.

“Last year wasn’t ideal with being injured and having a few calf injuries to deal with, and not really having too much confidence in my body,” Hogan told News Corp.

“Then this year, being able to link together 14, 15, 16 games and play some more consistent footy has been massive for me mentally, just to have faith in my body again and a decent season overall.”

Hogan’s agent, Matt Bain, of TLA Australia, is thrilled to see him playing well again and optimistic about greater things ahead.

“It’s a great result for Jesse. He’s happy there and deserves the two years,” Bain said.

“He’s put in a lot of work and it’s showing in his footy. I’m very proud of him.”

No key forward in the competition is averaging more than Hogan’s seven marks per match this season, with that part of his game always serving as a barometer for his performance.

“It’s not that I’m chasing marks or chasing kicks but that’s something that’s always kept me in the game – my ability to find a pocket of space,” he said.

“I’m not the most athletic, I’m not the quickest and I’m not the fittest but I think I’ve got a pretty high IQ when it comes to forward craft.”

The next step for Hogan is playing a full year, which he thinks is within his grasp if he can enjoy a big summer and enter the 2023 season injury free.

Part of that goal is also to ramp up his training between games, too, after largely staying off his legs until Wednesday or Thursday after a match and completing just one main session weekly this year.

“I’d get everything I needed to out of that session to feel sharp, then not much after that,” he said.

“But with the confidence I have in my body going into next season; I feel like I can get more training done, keep working on my craft during the week and be more confident going into games.”

Hogan, who has moved out of Shane Mumford’s Maroubra granny flat into a Balmain home, was among the eight players spared interim coach Mark McVeigh’s wrath after the disappointing display against the Swans.

The Giants’ underwhelming season has frustrated Hogan at times and he has spoken strongly recently about the players needing to be better defensively, but he has come a long way personally.

Hogan conceded several times since his Dockers exit that he made mistakes but also that escaping the constant houndings in Perth for somewhat of an anonymous existence in Sydney was badly needed.

“Hindsight is a wonderful thing. It’s kind of hard to reflect on – I have a lot of regrets and you can’t change the past, so I’ve just done the best I can to move on,” he said.

“It’s a bit of a littered few years, unfortunately, and that’s something I’m just going to have to live with, but this year and last year, I’ve taken steps forward.

“Hopefully, I’m just reaching the prime of my career and I can finish off my year really well and play some good seasons and have some deep finals runs.”

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Tolu Latu returns to Australia, Tom Horton joins Leicester Tigers, Rugby World Cup 2023, Rugby Championship

Tolu Latu is once again a Waratah, and the hooker could yet emerge as a player of national interest should he keep on the straight and narrow over the next 16 months.

After weeks of negotiations with the Waratahs, the 21-Test hooker signed a one-year deal with the Super Rugby franchise last week.

By doing so, Darren Coleman has opted for the immense capability of Latu over rising hooker Tom Horton to compete with Wallabies incumbent hooker Dave Porecki and Mahe Vailanu.

It can be revealed Horton, 25, will instead join up with England Premiership champions Leicester, who are coached by Eddie Jones’ former right-hand man Steve Borthwick.

Tom Horton is heading to Leicester and won’t return to the Waratahs for 2023 after Tolu Latu signed with Darren Coleman’s men. Photo: Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images

With Argentine international Julian Montoya unavailable, Tom Youngs retired and Sydney-born England squad member Nic Dolly injured, Borthwick needs a hooker and Horton will compete for the role once his visa is approved and he touches down in the region.

The short-term deal is the perfect opportunity for Horton to grow after a frustrating few years where injuries have slowed his development.

But the Sydney Uni hooker need only look at his former teammate Porecki for inspiration, with the 29-year-old plying his trade in England for years before an opening popped up back at the Waratahs last year. Porecki’s Wallabies debut was delayed by a year because of an injury, but the experienced rake was one of Dave Rennie’s best players against England in July.

Latu’s return is hardly surprising.

He has been linked to a return with the Waratahs ever since he was let go by Stade Francais earlier in the year.

The Waratahs will have two Test hookers at the franchise with Tolu Latu joining Dave Porecki. Photo: Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images

His departure from the Paris-based Top 14 outfit came after more ill-discipline off the pitch and reckless moments on it, which ultimately saw the 21-Test hooker farewelled.

But his incredible potential, where he is one of the best in Australian rugby over the ball and at the scrum, has seen Australian rugby give the cat with nine lives another chance.

It shapes as his last, with Latu to be shown the door if he puts one foot wrong given his history.

Wallaby Tolu Latu has been handed a lifeline by the Waratahs. Photo: AAPSource: AAP

Latu has joined on a contract worth barely six figures, but if he manages to keep on the right side of the boot greater riches lay ahead.

He is unlikely to come into the reckoning for the Wallabies this year unless a number of injuries, but given his outstanding World Cup campaign in 2019 he is a bolter for next year’s tournament in France.

He will compete with Porecki, Folau Fainga’a and Lachlan Lonergan – all three of whom are in Argentina ahead of the Wallabies’ opening Rugby Championship fixture against Michael Cheika’s Los Pumas in Mendoza on Sunday (AEST).

Argentina’s Australian coach Michael Cheika looks on before the series-deciding international against Scotland at the Madre de Ciudades Stadium in Santiago del Estero. Photo: AFPSource: AFP

Sunday’s Test shapes as a season defining one, especially with the All Blacks fighting fires on a number of fronts.

Not only do the All Blacks have the immense challenge of taking on the Springboks twice in South Africa, they are likely playing for coach Ian Foster’s future.

Foster, unlike two of his assistants, might have been spared the ax following their first series loss on home soil since 1994, but New Zealand Rugby CEO Mark Robinson hardly filled him with confidence when he stopped short of saying he would lead the All Blacks through to next year’s World Cup.

“He’s certainly the person to lead the team to South Africa, and we’re making sure they’ve got everything possible in the way of resourcing and support to make sure that’s successful,” Robinson told Newstalk ZB from Birmingham.

Robinson’s comments came after former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said relations between the New Zealand Rugby board and the players were at their lowest ebb.

“The relationship between the board and the [executive] with the players at the moment is probably the worst it’s ever been,” he said on local radio.

“I don’t think they’re doing their job right at the moment.”

While former NZR boss David Moffett called for Robinson to stand down.

The rumblings in the front office, and the lingering feeling the All Blacks have the wrong man coaching with Scott Robertson waiting in the wings, have left the feeling the All Blacks are at their most vulnerable in two decades ahead of the Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup .

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