Kane: What a way to finish at the Lane
LONDON: Tottenham Hotspur signed off 118 years at their soon-to-be-demolished White Hart Lane stadium with a 2-1 win over Manchester United yesterday that ensured they will finish as Premier League runners-up.
A carnival atmosphere preceded kickoff and the stadium erupted after six minutes when Victor Wanyama headed them in front against a weakened United side.
David de Gea kept United in the game with several fine stops, while Harry Kane struck the crossbar shortly before halftime as the hosts threatened to overwhelm their opponents.
Home hero Kane, pictured, scored his 22nd league goal of the season to make it 2-0 shortly after the interval, but United skipper Wayne Rooney halved the deficit with just under 20 minutes remaining.
As rain began to fall on Tottenham’s parade there were some nervy moments, but they hung on to claim a club-record equalling 14th successive home win and remain unbeaten at their north London fortress all season.
United’s second successive defeat in London means that Jose Mourinho’s side can no longer finish in the top four although they could yet qualify for the Champions League by beating Ajax in the Europa League final.
It was Tottenham’s day though and as the final whistle sounded to confirm their highest top-flight finish for 54 years, thousands of fans invaded the pitch to celebrate, delaying a post-match ceremony.
The stadium, home since 1899 and already being swallowed up by the new 61 00-seater ground rising around it, will be demolished with the club playing at Wembley next season before returning in the 2018-19 campaign.
While it was a day for nostalgia, it was also a day to celebrate the vibrant side assembled by Mauricio Pochettino – even if the title proved just beyond them.
With two games remaining they could still end up with 86 points, five more than Leicester City managed when winning the league last season.
“What a way to finish,” Kane said. “We wanted a win so badly in our last game here. I said before I’d love to score the winning goal and for it to happen is brilliant.”
Elsewhere, Liverpool kept their topfour destiny in their own hands as Philippe Coutinho’s double earned them a 4-0 league victory at West Ham United yesterday that moved them back above Manchester City into third place.
Anything other than a victory at West Ham’s London Stadium would have left Liverpool relying on other results going their way but once Daniel Sturridge put them ahead in the 35th minute they were relatively comfortable.
Brazilian playmaker Coutinho struck twice in the space of four minutes midway through the second half and Divock Origi rubbed salt into West Ham’s wounds as the visitors ran riot.
Meanwhile, Hull City were relegated from the league after a 4-0 defeat at Crystal Palace, who guaranteed their own survival with a superb performance.
First-half efforts from Wilfried Zaha and Christian Benteke were followed by a Luka Milivojevic penalty after the break and a late effort from Patrick van Aanholt to leave Hull four points adrift of Swansea City above them. – Reuters