LONDON (AP) — Leicester secured an incredible first Premier League title without playing on Monday after second-place Tottenham drew 2-2 at Chelsea in one of the biggest-ever triumphs by an underdog in sports.
Leicester was playing in the second tier only two years ago, came close to be relegated again last year and started this season as 5,000-1 outsiders for the title.
Now for the first time in their 132-year history Leicester is champion of England after establishing an insurmountable seven-point lead over Tottenham with two games remaining.
The Foxes missed a chance to seal the title on Sunday when they were held by Manchester United but deposed champion Chelsea ensured the party wasn't delayed any longer. Some Leicester players were gathered at the house of 22-goal top scorer Jamie Vardy as Tottenham was playing Chelsea, and defender Christian Fuchs tweeted a video of players celebrating.
Here's the scene at a Leicester bar when Chelsea tied it, setting the stage for Foxes' title. (via @darrenrovell) pic.twitter.com/CoAABDdXML
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 2, 2016
Tottenham had to win at Chelsea to keep its bid for a first title since 1961 alive and led 2-0 thanks to goals from striker Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, before Chelsea staged a second-half fight back to draw in a fiery London derby where tempers frayed and tackles flew in from everywhere.
Center half Gary Cahill pulled a goal back for Chelsea early in the second half, and with Tottenham clinging on, the equalizing goal was scored by Eden Hazard.
Hazard's goal was almost a year to the day since his strike won the title for Chelsea, which is 29 points behind Leicester. Chelsea's collapse has been as astonishing as Leicester's surge to the top of the standings it was bottom of last April.
Leicester will collect the trophy on Saturday when it hosts Everton at the King Power Stadium.
English soccer has not had a maiden champion of the top flight since Nottingham Forest in 1978. And for the last 20 years the Premier League trophy has never left London or Manchester, with Arsenal, Chelsea, United and City sharing the trophy between them.
Unlike that title-winning quartet or 1995 champion Blackburn, Leicester has achieved its success without lavish spending on its squad.
Chelsea's draw also ensured Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri became a league title winner for the first time in his career, 12 years after the 64-year-old Italian was fired by the Blues.
"Let's do it for Ranieri," read one Chelsea fan's banner at Stamford Bridge where the trophy was presented to Chelsea last May.
