Conte’s side fell behind to Laurent Depoitre’s second half strike and although Marcos Alonso bagged a fortuitous equaliser, the Blues couldn’t find a priceless winner as they wasted a host of chances.

Fifth placed Chelsea’s attempt to salvage a troubled season by finishing in the top four is now out of their hands heading into the final game of the season at Newcastle on Sunday.

“For sure we had so many chances and you must be good to take them. It is not the first time that we are not clinical,” Conte moaned.

“It is not a situation only for the strikers, but the whole team.

“Every team deserves the points they have in the table. We dropped many points. We are fifth and we must accept this.”

Tottenham’s 1-0 win over Newcastle on Wednesday means Chelsea can’t make up the four-point gap to their third placed London rivals.

Fourth placed Liverpool are two points ahead of Chelsea and, given their vastly superior goal difference, they will condemn the Blues to the Europa League next season if they avoid defeat against Brighton at Anfield on Sunday.

“I’m realistic. This situation wasn’t in our hands before this game and for sure the chances are less than before today. We have to try to do our best,” Conte said.

Missing out on the Champions League would be a suitably downbeat conclusion to a lacklustre title defence from Chelsea and could prove the last straw for Blues owner Roman Abramovich as he reportedly plans to part ways with Conte.

Conte appears set to leave after just two years in charge following a contentious campaign marred by the Italian’s feud with the Chelsea hierarchy over their failure to back his transfer plans.

The 48-year-old has seen a host of leading managers linked with his job in recent weeks and added fuel to the fire this week when he said his future would be revealed after the FA Cup final against Manchester United on May 19.

“This is not my task, there is a club to judge the situation and then to take the best decision,” Conte said when asked if he would be in charge next term.

Huddersfield’s reward for a tenacious display is another season among English football’s elite after a superb result that seals their safety with a game in spare.

“If you have the passion, desire and spirit you can compete with top quality,” Huddersfield manager David Wagner said.

“We have done it. I am so unbelievably proud.”

In what could be Conte’s final home match, he made six changes to the side that beat Champions League finalists Liverpool 1-0 on Sunday, with Olivier Giroud and Eden Hazard surprisingly left on the bench.

It was a gamble that backfired, but Conte refused to accept he made the wrong decision.

“When I make a rotation I play with players like Morata, Christensen, Willian. It is stupid to talk about the rotation,” he said.

“We are Chelsea. We have a big squad. We must win.”

Huddersfield took the lead with their first serious attack in the 50th minute.

When Aaron Mooy played a pass over the top of the Chelsea defence, Blues goalkeeper Willy Caballero came rushing to the edge of the area in a bid to clear.

But Depoitre beat Caballero to the ball and in the process left him sprawled on the turf, giving the Belgian striker time to net his first goal since December.

Conte responded by sending on Giroud and Hazard and Chelsea grabbed a bizarre equaliser in the 62nd minute.

Cesar Azpilicueta drilled over a low cross that prompted a panicked clearance from Mathias Zanka and the ball hit Alonso in the face before rebounding into the Huddersfield net.

Conte’s side to laid siege to the Huddersfield goal.

But the visitors, fighting for survival, threw their bodies in the way time and again before Jonas Lossl superbly pushed Andreas Christensen’s header onto the post.

City took their goals tally for the campaign to 105, their points total to 97 and their number of wins to 31, eclipsing previous best marks set by Chelsea.

Pep Guardiola’s team last month sealed the title with five matches to spare and are now a whopping 20 points ahead of nearest challengers Manchester United.

City can become the first team to reach 100 points in an English top-flight season if they beat Southampton on the final day on Sunday.

Veteran midfielder Yaya Toure was made captain for his final home appearance and goals from Danilo, Bernardo Silva and Fernandinho ensured he finished on the winning side. Leonardo Ulloa scored for the visitors.

Leroy Sane also shone, setting up all three goals, but the occasion belonged to Toure as the club celebrated the Ivorian’s outstanding service over the past eight years.

Toure was recalled for his first Premier League start of the season and regular captain Vincent Kompany gave up the armband for the night.

He played 85 minutes before leaving to a huge ovation having been in the thick of the action throughout.

“Thank you for being such a wonderful team mate. If there is ever going to be a legend at this club it is this man,” said Kompany.

Toure, 34, has won three Premier League titles and four domestic cups during his eight seasons at City.

His outing was his first Premier League start of the season with his previous nine appearances having come off the bench.

After the game a presentation was made to Toure by his brother and former City team-mate Kolo Toure, who had been invited as a surprise special guest by the club.

Toure was given a lifetime season ticket at the club, a commemorative shirt and a film was also shown of his City career highlights on the big screen.

He also received a huge cheer when he picked out his winning goal against arch-rivals Manchester United in the 2011 FA Cup semi-final as his favourite moment at the club.

“The most important one was the goal against United,” he said when asked about his City highlights.

A point for Huddersfield also ensures Swansea will join West Brom and Stoke in being relegated to the Championship barring a 10-goal swing in goal difference between the Welsh side and Southampton on the final day of the season on Sunday.

At the other end of the table, only defeat for Champions League finalists Liverpool at home to Brighton at the weekend will give Chelsea any chance of a top-four finish as their late season charge came undone at Stamford Bridge.

Spurs capitalised on Chelsea’s slip-up to ensure they will have Champions League football for a third consecutive campaign when they move into a new 62,000 capacity stadium next season.

“For the club (it) is a massive thing to move to the new stadium and play Champions League,” said Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino.

Tottenham had won just one of their previous five matches and were again far from their best in a nervy display.

But Kane proved to be their talisman once more as his 39th goal of the season just after half-time was enough to move Spurs above Liverpool into third.

A surprisingly much-changed Chelsea side from the one that beat Liverpool four days ago fell behind when Laurent Depoitre forced the ball home five minutes into the second-half.

Recognising the error of his team selection, Antonio Conte threw on Olivier Giroud and Eden Hazard from the bench, and was quickly rewarded when Marcos Alonso levelled just after the hour mark.

“We had so many chances and you must be good to take them. It is not the first time that we are not clinical,” lamented Conte, who ducked questions over his future.

However, Huddersfield held on desperately in the final half hour to secure the vital point that guaranteed survival on their return to the top flight for the first time in 45 years.

“I was shocked that we had the lead! People said we had no chance, I will not criticise one of them because they were right,” said Huddersfield manager David Wagner.

“We were everything but a Premier League club last summer, but we have given it a go. We have showed everybody that we are humble but we are ambitious.”

At the Etihad, champions Manchester City added three more records to a sensational season by breaking the previous best Premier League marks for wins, points and goals in a 3-1 victory over Brighton.

Pep Guardiola’s men also bid farewell to Yaya Toure in the Ivorian’s final home game in City colours.

Toure was an inspirational figure in City’s first two title wins of a free-spending era under Sheikh Mansour’s ownership.

However, he has been relegated to a supporting role this season in a supremely talented squad that has now racked up 31 wins, 105 goals and 97 points to beat Chelsea’s hitherto records of 30 wins, 103 goals and 95 points.

“Thank you for being such a wonderful team-mate,” City captain Vincent Kompany told Toure.

“If there is ever going to be a legend at this club it is this man.”

Leroy Sane bagged a hat-trick of assists for City as Danilo, Bernardo Silva and Fernandinho found the net.

Arsene Wenger’s penultimate game in charge of Arsenal ended in depressingly familiar fashion as the 10-man Gunners were defeated 3-1 at Leicester.

Arsenal remain the only team in England’s top four leagues without a point away from home this year having now lost seven straight Premier League games on the road.

Kelechi Iheanacho had already fired the Foxes into an early lead before Arsenal were reduced to 10 men when Konstantinos Mavropanos was shown a straight red card for hauling down Iheanacho.

Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang scored his ninth Arsenal goal in just 13 appearances since a club record move from Borussia Dortmund in January to draw the visitors level.

But Arsenal were left ruing another refereeing decision as Demarai Gray tumbled inside the area and Jamie Vardy rifled home the resulting penalty before Riyad Mahrez added a late third for Leicester.

The Olympic Committee of Thailand (OCT) has set a high target for the 18th Asian Games in Indonesia in August, convinced the Kingdom can improve on its showing at the previous edition.

Charouck Arirachakaran, OCT secretary-general, laid out his battle plans at the national athletics committee yesterday, with 467 male and 446 female athletes set to represent Thailand at the August 18-September 2 Games in Jakarta and Palembang.

The OCT man is confident Thai athletes can top the 12 gold medals they won at the 2014 edition in Incheon, South Korea, where the Kingdom won four titles in sepak takraw, two from cycling and one each in sailing, taekwondo, golf, bowling, tennis and boxing.

“I believe Thai athletes will perform better than they did four years ago overall. But I cannot predict how many gold medals they will win as athletes from other countries are improving as well,” said Charouck.

He pointed out however that as football is the country’s main sport, Thailand must show its supremacy here over other teams in the region. “This perhaps is even more important than the number of medals we will achieve,” he said.

He expressed concern at the slow progress of Games preparations, including transport for athletes.

Elsewhere, Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana is training hard in France with her new horse Frust Henry, according to a source at the Thailand Equestrian Federation. The Federation has not confirmed whether the Princess will take part in the Asiad, however.

The Princess took part in the 2014 Games and was a member of Thailand’s SEA Games dressage silver medal squad in Kuala Lumpur in 2017.

Held at the Jakarta Muay Thai & MMA Gym on 9 May, the ONE: GRIT AND GLORY Open Workout featured main event competitors, reigning ONE Strawweight World Champion Alex “Little Rock” Silva of Brazil and opponent Yoshitaka “Nobita” Naito of Japan.

Also in attendance were martial arts stars Stefer Rahardian, Himanshu Kaushik, Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol, and Rome Trinidad who will all be appearing on the supporting card.

Alex Silva, ONE Strawweight World Champion, stated: “I am always looking for a spectacular finish, no matter where the bout ends up — whether on the feet or on the ground. I really feel like I can beat Naito again, no doubt. If it takes one round or five, I’m ready. I am prepared to go the duration of the contest again. My goal is to improve on the performance of the last bout. There should be no problems with me going to the end since I have prepared well, but I am definitely looking to finish this time around.”

Yoshitaka Naito, ONE Athlete, stated: “This is a really important bout for me, and I am working very hard to win this time. I think the opportunity that I have for this rematch this soon is very rare, so I’m not taking it lightly. He is the champion now, and I am the challenger. Silva is very good at everything. I underestimated his striking previously, but he is very well-rounded. I could not do what I wanted to do in the cage. This time, things will be different.”

Stefer Rahardian, ONE Athlete, stated: “I definitely learned a lot from my last match, and I know that I need to be prepared for everything. It was hard, but I earned a tough decision and that’s great. But now I want to win with a finish. I want to excite the crowd and give my best performance. There is something to be learned with every match, win or lose. I want to show that I have improved a lot since my last appearance.”

Himanshu Kaushik, ONE Athlete, stated: “With my family and friends supporting me, I want to make them proud of my performance. I am very lucky to have the team I have behind me. Stefer Rahardian is a great athlete, undefeated and experienced. He has great wrestling skills and his grappling is top notch. I am preparing to handle his strengths and by the time we both step into the cage, I’ll be ready. I know what to do and we have a great game plan in place.”

Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol, ONE Athlete, stated: “The more I compete, the more experience I get. It does not matter so much whether I win or lose, as long as there is always something to learn. I am working on all areas of my skills, both in my striking and in my ground game. I really feel like I have improved a lot, and I want to showcase this in this next match. I want to be the best. I want to get more matches and wins, and hopefully get the belt.”

Rome Trinidad, ONE Athlete, stated: “I am out to prove that every woman can do anything they put their mind to. I want to inspire the youth, young girls who look up to us martial artists and want to follow in our footsteps. I want them to be strong against any challenge in life, not only physically, but also mentally and spiritually. This is a tough game we play, but I am prepared to do what it takes to bring my best performance to the cage.”

Alex “Little Rock” Silva of Sao Paulo, Brazil, is a third-degree black belt and Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion feared for his relentless pursuit of submission finishes. He is a technical grappling specialist with a penchant for securing highlight-reel submissions. With steadily increasing confidence, five of Silva’s last six victories have all ended in spectacular fashion. In his most recent contest, Silva turned in the best performance of his career, defeating former champion Yoshitaka Naito via unanimous decision to claim the ONE Strawweight World Championship. Now, Silva is ready to return to action to defend the belt against the same man he took it from.

Former ONE Strawweight World Champion Yoshitaka “Nobita” Naito of Matsudo, Japan, owns a stellar professional record of 12-1. He owns six victories by submission and one by knockout. Naito made a name for himself at Japan’s world famous Korakuen Hall competing for Shooto as its Flyweight Champion, and captured the ONE Strawweight World Championship by submitting Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke in his ONE promotional debut in 2016. In his most recent bout, Naito succumbed to now reigning division king, Alex Silva. He returns to action looking to reclaim championship glory against Silva in a rematch.

Top Indonesian martial arts talent Stefer Rahardian impressed in his ONE Championship debut by winning the ONE: TITLES & TITANS Flyweight Tournament in August of 2016. Rahardian finished both Yotha Hutagalung and Hendrick Wijaya by first round rear-naked choke to become the tournament winner. Since then, Rahardian has blazed a trail in the ONE Championship cage in an amazing run as a professional. In his last outing, Rahardian outperformed Pakistan’s Muhammad Imran to win by unanimous decision. Still unbeaten at a perfect 8-0, Rahardian puts his unblemished record on the line against Himanshu Kaushik in a strawweight contest.

Indian bantamweight contender Himanshu Kaushik is set to make his ONE Championship debut at ONE: GRIT AND GLORY. Kaushik has competed mostly in his native India, showcasing a solid set of striking and grappling skills. A striking specialist, Kaushik also owns a wushu record of 71-7. Kaushik’s promotional debut will be anything but easy however, as he faces surging Indonesian martial arts talent Stefer Rahardian in a three-round strawweight bout.

Female martial artist Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol of Jakarta, Indonesia, is an Indonesian national wushu champion who has trained in various striking disciplines such as kickboxing and wushu. The 29-year-old made her ONE Championship debut against Singapore’s Tiffany Teo at ONE: THRONE OF TIGERS in February 2017, joining a growing list of elite female martial artists in Asia. Lumban Gaol, a striking specialist with a wushu record of 15-5, will look to extend her two-bout winning streak to three in her next appearance inside the ONE Championship cage, when she takes on Rome Trinidad.

20-year-old Rome “The Rebel” Trinidad of Manila, Philippines is set to return to action in her second appearance inside the ONE Championship cage. The atomweight competitor is a practitioner of Sikaran, an ancient martial arts discipline which originated from Rizal province in the Philippines. With no written history, Sikaran was passed on from generation to generation by succession. A former National Sikaran Champion training out of Elorde Gym, Trinidad is ready to showcase her skills to the world. She takes on rising Indonesian martial arts star Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol.

Co-sanctioned by All Thailand Golf Tour (ATGT) and Asian Development Tour (ADT), the Bt 2 million event, serving as the fourth leg of the ATGT 2018, will feature 144 players to fight for the winner’s cheque of Bt 300,000.

Among pre-contenders for the coveted trophy are Nitithorn and Itthipat, who are going to approach the course in confident mood on the back of their recent achievements. The former earned himself the breakthrough ADT victory on Sunday while the latter got his third Thai PGA tour in March.

Looking for his back-to-back ADT titles after last week’s success in Malaysia, the 22-year-old Nitithorn has become more confident in his game and he hopes to build on that to add one more title to his cabinet.

“To win the tournament outside the country for the first time will definitely boost my confidence going into the tournament,” said the golfer, who is now setting a sight on winning his first ATGT trophy.

“I don’t think about whether I am on home ground. I will use the experience I gained from playing in the final group and  have fun this week.”

While Nitithorn is seeking his maiden win on the 20-year tour, Itthipat wants to end his three-year title drought after getting his only ATGT title at the Singha Championship at Rayong Green Valley Club in 2015. Like Nitithorn, the 24-year-old Itthipat will confidently enter the event following last month’s win in Nakhon Nayok, which was his third Thai PGA tour success.

Joining them include Kasidit Lepkurte, ranked 12th in the ATGT money list and Pawin Ingkapradit. The local hopefuls will face the tough challenges in Americans Blake Snyder and Michael O’toole, Martine Dive of Australia, Mathiam Keyser of South and Oscar Zetterwall of Sweden.

At the inaugural edition last year, the title belonged to Chanachok Dejpiratanamongkol, who won by one shot on 27-under. Unfortunately, he is not available to defend the title this year.

The Thai-Norwegian driver settled at 10th ith his new Porsche 911 GT3R in the first circuit of series Sepang last month.

For his home round this season Sandy Kraokaew Stuvik is determined to maximize his efforts to reserve a top three spot in Buriram and to remain in contention for the top 5 in overall championship position.

“Last year in the race we were in 3rd position before suffering a collision with a GT4 car, which caused a lot of damage to the car and we were unable to compete in the second race on Sunday,” the 23-year-old racer said.

‘For this year I am aiming for a podium finish at my home race, and I am very excited to race in front of all the Thai fans.” Sandy told The Nation

During the Buriram race,  there will also be a Pit Walk between 11.50am to 12.3pm on Sunday 13 May, which gives the chance for all motorsports fans to see racing cars up close and personal.

Fans will also get the chance to win special gifts from Sandy Kraokaew Stuvik and his sponsors.

To follow the race weekend Live on Youtube simply go to this link:www.youtube.com/user/gt1world

The race will take place on the 12^nd -13^rd  of May 2018 at the Buriram International Circuit. Sandy is supported by The Pizza Company, Singha Corporation, The Tourism Authority of Thailand, Thai Airways, Thaiwings Travel Agency, the Royal Automobile Association of Thailand and the Sports Authority of Thailand.

Defeat to Chelsea on Sunday, following damaging draws against Stoke and West Brom, has taken the race for Champions League football next season into the final week of the season.

Unless Huddersfield can beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, Liverpool will go into Sunday’s home game against Brighton knowing they must at least match Chelsea’s result against Newcastle, managed by former Reds boss Rafael Benitez.

Should they fail, they would have to beat Real Madrid in this month’s Champions League final in Kiev to qualify for Europe’s premier club competition.

“It’s my life, it’s our life, that we always make it a little bit more exciting,” Klopp told liverpoolfc.com.

“We had these situations a few times and it will be, for sure, exciting because Brighton is in a good moment, they played fantastic against (Manchester) United.

“But it’s all OK, as long as we have it in our own hands, life is good. We still have to take it then but we will try everything.”

After five matches, including an emotionally draining two-legged Champions League semi-final, in 16 days Klopp has a full week to prepare for the crucial fixture.

“I’m really happy that this very intense period is over now because we have one week to prepare for Brighton — that feels like a year and we will use that,” he added.

Liverpool have suffered a fresh injury blow after England defender Joe Gomez was ruled out of the Champions League final and the World Cup following ankle surgery.

A statement from the club confirmed Gomez’s season was over, saying: “The surgery means the 20-year-old will play no part in the remaining two fixtures of the 2017/18 campaign, or the World Cup finals with England.

“However, Gomez will be ready for the start of Liverpool’s pre-season training schedule in July following a rehabilitation period.”

Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has already been ruled out of the World Cup in Russia with a knee injury.

Zidane also said on Tuesday that Mohamed Salah deserves great credit for Liverpool’s surprise run in Europe but insisted the match in Kiev will not be a contest of the Egyptian against Ronaldo.

Ronaldo was forced off at half-time of Sunday’s Clasico between Real and Barcelona, which ended 2-2 at the Camp Nou, and Zidane has confirmed the Portuguese sprained his ankle.

There were fears the injury could affect Ronaldo’s chances of facing Liverpool on May 26 but Zidane is confident his star player will recover, along with fellow absentees Isco and Dani Carvajal.

“I think they will all be fine for the final – Cristiano, Isco, Carvajal,” Zidane said.

“The one more injured is Cristiano because it has just happened but it is going well, he is walking normally and he will be fine.”

Ronaldo was hurt during a collision with Gerard Pique just as he bundled in Real’s equaliser against Barcelona.

He played on for 31 minutes until the interval but did not emerge for the second half.

“It is a sprain, but there is no particular damage on the fibula, it is a small sprain and his ankle is stable,” Zidane said.

“Ronaldo, in terms of his injury, is incredible, that’s what he has this guy, he is already on the ground, walking, and feeling positive 48 hours later.

“Even if we do not know when he will resume with the team, the fact that he is already there 48 hours after shows his commitment, his desire to always want to play.”

Real visit Sevilla in La Liga on Wednesday but with the title race settled and their place in the top four safe, the key now is to avoid any further injury scares.

Liverpool, still battling for Champions League qualification in the Premier League, will not have the luxury of resting star players like Salah, who is considered key to them beating Real.

“Salah had a great season and I think he deserves a lot of credit for Liverpool being in the final, that’s for sure,” Zidane said.

“But in the end, I don’t like to call this a match of Cristiano against Salah. It will be Madrid against Liverpool, as always, that is the most important thing.”

Professor (Special) Charoen Wattanasin, vice president and deputy chairman for marketing and rights commission of the Olympic Committee of Thailand (OCT) said CP would support safe and clean Thai food for more than 800 athletes and officials, as well as over 100 media members working in Indonesia.

The deal means all those involved will get an international roaming SIM card so they can keep in touch with each other, as well as with their families back home.

He also added that OCT was aiming to better the 12 gold medals achieved at the 2014 Games in South Korea.

A top-five finish in the medal table is another of the OCT’s goals.

Kachorn Chiaravanont, Member of the Executive Committee, Charoen Pokphand Group, said: “We’ve provided food and telecommunication support to the national team since the 2016 Olympic Games, so will select only those menus that suit their tastes, which will be clean, safe, and nutritious, for all athletes.”

One of CP’s subsidiary companies, True Corporation, will provide TrueMove H roaming SIM cards so the country’s athletes, coaches, officials and media can make phone calls, receive calls, send messages and use non-stop 4G and 3G data services during the 16-day event.

The 2018 Asian Games will take place from 18 August to 2 September in Jakarta and Palembang, when 45 nations will participate in 40 sports for a total of 462 gold medals.

The 42 sports are  1) aquatics (swimming, diving, synchronized swimming and water polo), 2) archery, 3) athletics, 4) badminton, 5) baseball/ softball, 6) basketball, 7) bowling, 8) boxing, 9) contract bridge, 10) canoeing-kayaking, 11) cycling, 12) equestrian, 13) fencing, 14) football, 15) golf, 16) gymnastics, 17) handball, 18) hockey, 19) jet ski, 20) judo, 21) kabaddi, 22) karate, 23) martial arts, 24) modern pentathlon, 25) paragliding, 26) rowing, 27) rugby sevens, 28) sailing, 29) sepak takraw, 30) shooting, 31) sport climbing, 32) squash, 33) table tennis, 34) taekwondo, 35) tennis, 36) triathlon, 37) volleyball, 38) weightlifting, 39) wrestling, and 40) roller sports (inline speed skating and skateboarding).

In the past Games, Thailand won 121 gold, 159 silver and 233 bronze medals, in total. Four years ago, Thailand won 12 gold, 7 silver and 28 bronze medals, and finished sixth in Korea (with China, South Korea, Japan, Kazakhstan and Iran in the top five respectively.)