Gutsy Tottenham grind out victory
SPURS STAY IN TOUCH WITH TOP TWO
Tottenham kept alive their bid to gatecrash the Premier League title race as Davinson Sanchez’s first goal for the club and Hugo Lloris’s penalty save inspired a 3-1 win over Leicester yesterday.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side took the lead through Sanchez’s first-half header, but they were indebted to Lloris for keeping out Jamie Vardy’s spot-kick after the interval at Wembley.
Christian Eriksen netted moments later and although Vardy got one back, Son Heung-min’s late strike ensured third-placed Tottenham clinched a fifth win in their last six league games.
The north Londoners are five points off the top of the table as they try to catch pace-setters Liverpool and Manchester City.
While Tottenham are still outsiders to win their first English title since 1961, their ability to stay in contention, despite injuries to key players Harry Kane and Dele Alli suggests they shouldn’t be completely written off.
Leicester boss Claude Puel has reportedly lost the support of several influential players, including Vardy, who was left on the bench for the first 60 minutes before coming on to miss the penalty with his first touch.
Pochettino left out Toby Alderweireld and Lucas Moura and recalled Fernando Llorente.
Spurs were furious when Son’s penalty appeal ended in a booking for diving after Maguire stuck out a leg to halt the South Korean.
They kept pressing and were rewarded with a well-worked 33rd minute opener.
Trippier’s short corner found the unmarked Christian Eriksen and he whipped a pin-point cross towards Sanchez six yards from goal and he launched into a diving header that beat Schmeichel.
Leicester’s positive start to the second half brought a golden opportunity to equalise with their 60th-minute penalty.
A rapid exchange of passes opened up a chance for Maddison, prompting Jan Vertonghen to rashly bundle over the midfielder.
Vardy had been warming up in preparation and was immediately introduced, jogging forward to take the ball from Maddison.
But Lloris came to Tottenham’s rescue, plunging to his right to keep out Vardy’s spot-kick.
Tottenham made the most of their escape as Eriksen doubled the lead three minutes later.
Llorente pounced on Pereira’s poor clearance and teed up Eriksen for a superb strike from the edge of the area for his first goal since January 1.
Vardy gave Leicester hope in the 76th minute, pouncing from close-range to convert Pereira’s cross in typically predatory fashion.
But Son had the last word in the 90th minute as the winger raced clear to slot past Schmeichel for his 15th goal of the season. – AFP