CUTI LOOSE Postecoglou’s men battle back
By Harry Pratt
A RENOWNED pillar at the back, Cristian Romero showed his knack for grabbing crucial goals at the other end. The player nicknamed Cuti scored Tottenham’s killer second yesterday – his fourth in the league this term – in a stunning fightback by the hosts. Three goals in 11 minutes late on, with Timo Werner and Heung-min Son grabbing the others, helped Ange Postecoglou’s men come from behind against Crystal Palace. That rapid burst of ruthless finishing ensured the North London outfit are snapping at the heels of fourth-placed Aston Villa. They should have been ahead yesterday in the 19th minute when Son’s astute first-time pass sent Werner clear. The German winger, in acres of space, opted to round Palace stopper Sam Johnstone – only to be denied by a fine save.
That one moment summed up Werner. Yet he would go on to have the last laugh.
It was also a rare goalmouth incident in a poor first half.
The hosts regularly wasted openings with astray passes while Palace were constantly caught offside.
But there was a new, much required urgency to Spurs’ play after the interval. Werner was unlucky not to earn a penalty when seemingly tripped by Daniel Munoz.
And skipper Son had one effort blocked before crashing another off the bar.
Always a threat on the counter, though, the Eagles suddenly struck gold in the 59th minute through Eberechi Eze.
Firstly, he won a free-kick 20 yards out when fouled by Rodrigo Bentancur, then he scorched the ball into the far corner. Whether the wall was not lined up properly by keeper
Guglielmo Vicario – or he was too far to his left – is debatable.
Either way, Eze had a clear view and found the target.
But the hosts deservedly equalised when Werner fired into an empty net from sub Brennan Johnson’s 77th-minute cross.
Four minutes later, they were in front. From a quick throw-in, James Maddison lobbed a cross into the area and Romero rose majestically to head in.
And completing the lightning turnaround, Johnson set up Son to bury past exposed Johnstone.