IT’S BITTERSWEET FOR KANE
Harry is hot but hobbles off at end
TOTTENHAM must be better at protecting leads now they are sponsored by a company with Britain’s most famous dog but at least they have a man to provide a gloss finish.
After Thursday’s kerfuffle with Dulux and some tongue-in-cheek tweets that left the club embarrassed, normal service was resumed last night on Merseyside as Tottenham gave away an advantage but saw Harry Kane do what he does best.
Kane rescued Spurs, but his own night ended on a worrying note when he turned his ankle and immediately asked to be substituted late in the game.
The England striker seemed to tangle with Richarlison at a corner as he suffered the injury.
In a game that had significant connotations for both clubs in the race for Europe, Kane had fired Spurs in front, watched in frustration as they fell behind to two Gylfi Sigurdsson goals, then rescued his side with a terrific strike to ensure they got reward from an entertaining game.
He was, admittedly, helped by some dreadful defending by Everton, whose ambitions of reaching the Champions League now appear to have evaporated, but it was still a ruthless display of finishing and reminder of why he is one of Europe’s best.
Everton were the first team to provide some kind of imagination when James Rodriguez nudged a perfectly-weighted ball forward to Richarlison but, in keeping with the way the contest had been meandering, the Brazilian’s shot lacked conviction and was easily saved by Hugo Lloris.
Maybe that was the jolt Tottenham needed as, moments later, they opened the scoring. A cross from Tanguy Ndombele caused panic in Everton’s area as Michael Keane got his header wrong and only managed to flick the ball on to Kane, who did the rest. Kane loves facing Everton, scoring 10 times in his last 11 appearances against them. This effort to nudge his tally forward was terrific, an instinctive shot speared past Jordan Pickford into the corner.
The advantage, however, was all too brief. Spurs were in front for three minutes before Everton were given a route back into the contest. It came when Sergio Reguilon careered into the back of Rodriguez, needlessly giving the hosts a penalty. Up stepped Sigurdsson, against his former club, to convert from 12 yards.
Using Sigurdsson and Rodriguez from the start has not been wildly successful for Everton, who had only won two of the previous seven fixtures the pair had started together, but they began to click and almost fashioned a second goal in the 35th minute.
A flowing move ended with the
Colombian swapping passes with the Iceland international on the edge of the area but Lloris was equal to the challenge when spreading himself to block Rodriguez’s shot.
This was more like it from Ancelotti’s side. He has done superb work over the last 16 months but cannot be immune to criticism — and it has been impossible not to feel the handbrake has been on since Everton got to within challenging distance of the top four.
Goodison should have been the scene for a rich supply of points but the fact they hadn’t scored more than one goal at home in the Premier League since December 19 — and only won once here, outside cup ties, in 2021 — illustrates where they have fallen short.
Ancelotti wanted to see that put right in the second half but Mourinho was similarly impatient for a response from his team and they were the ones who came out for the restart with purpose - prompting the Italian to get increasingly animated on the touchline.
First to threaten was Son Heungmin, who scurried down the left flank in the 51st minute away from Alex Iwobi and Ben Godfrey but he was denied by a smart stop from Jordan Pickford, who was one of a number of England players being watched by Gareth Southgate.
Tottenham came closer still in the 54th minute. Son was again involved but this time it was a corner from the right that caused problems for Everton. Toby Alderweireld’s header cannoned against the outside of the post.
How Everton made the most of that escape. Ancelotti had seen enough from Iwobi and dragged him off in the 60th minute and by the 62nd minute Everton had the lead, with the Nigerian’s replace
ment — Ireland captain Seamus Coleman — teeing up Sigurdsson.
It was a beautiful move, Coleman tearing down the right and swapping passes with Richarlison before cutting a cross back for Sigurdsson, who adjusted his balance to half-volley past Lloris.
EVERTON (3-4-2-1): Pickford 6.5; Godfrey 6, Keane 5, Holgate 5; Iwobi 4 (Coleman 61min, 7), Allan 6, Davies 6.5 (King 84), Digne 6; Rodriguez 7.5, Sigurdsson 8; Richarlison 6. Subs not used: Nkounkou, Virginia, Olsen, Broadhead, John, Price, Welch. Scorer: Sigurdsson 31 (pen), 62. Booked: Davies. Manager: Carlo Ancelotti 6. TOTTENHAM (3-4-1-2): Lloris 6; Dier 6, Alderweireld 6, Rodon 6; Aurier 6, Hojbjerg 7, Sissoko 7, Reguilon 5.5 (Moura 64, 6); Ndombele 6.5 (Lamela 64, 6); KANE 8.5 (Alli 90), Son 7.5. Subs not used: Sanchez, Winks, Bale, Hart, Lo Celso, Tanganga. Scorer: Kane 27, 68. Booked: Hojbjerg. Manager: Jose Mourinho 6. Referee: Michael Oliver 6.