HARRY’S TOP OF THE SHOTS
Kane fires awesome foursome as Spurs avenge Foxes taunts
Tottenham’s title pursuit may be over but here was a performance to savour. Leicester, so resurgent of late, were left a bloodied mess with the most grievous wounds inflicted by harry Kane, who was relentless in his pursuit of the Golden Boot. In one match the spurs striker moved from two behind Romelu Lukaku to two in front.
For the third of his four goals, he cut inside Danny simpson and smashed a finish between the defender’s legs, leaving Kasper schmeichel no chance. In stoppage time, he got another in similar fashion, this time snapping a shot past Daniel amartey.
It was some effort to consign son heung-min, the scorer of tottenham’s other two goals in a mighty fine display, to a supporting role.
In just 29 games, less than his contemporaries through two injury absences, Kane has scored 26 goals and he spoke afterwards of reaching 30 in the final game at hull. he wasn’t even joking.
the spurs fans were of similar mindset. ‘We want seven,’ they chanted, revelling in a result that mocked Leicester supporters’ predictable taunts at a second failed bid to become champions.
Last season’s title race has given games between these two a bit of needle, and within 60 seconds of the start spurs fans were reminded that they had ‘come third in a twohorse race’ last year. ‘tottenham hotspur, we’re waiting for you,’ Leicester’s supporters sang, inverting claims from Kane and Co 12 months ago. ‘It’s happened again,’ went another home chorus, celebrating Chelsea’s triumph.
Kyle Walker, a target for manchester City, was conspicuous by his absence through an apparent ankle injury. With Kieran trippier also out from the effects of concussion, mauricio Pochettino switched to a 3-4-1-2 system with moussa sissoko as the right wing back. at first, Leicester looked ready to exploit the change. Riyad mahrez picked out Jamie Vardy’s smart run with a delicate pass but the Leicester striker shot too close to hugo Lloris.
But soon the momentum changed and the visitors exerted their class through the triple threat of Kane, son and Dele alli.
the breakthrough came in the 25th minute. Lloris passed to toby alderweireld, who sent a long ball over Leicester’s back line to son. makeshift centre back Benalouane tried to play offside 30 yards from goal, failed, and was too slow to get back by the time son, who judged the flight better than Christian Fuchs, had squared for Kane to finish sharply on the volley.
the spurs fans celebrated by mockingly suggesting Kane is just a poorer version of Vardy. or words to that effect.
In the 36th minute a neat spurs move built to the point where alli had space by the edge of the area. What he did next was as inspired as Leicester’s defending was questionable. alli scooped the ball between Fuchs and Benalouane, finding son who half-volleyed into the corner of the net. It was the south Korean’s 20th goal of the season, joining Kane and alli in reaching that figure. no other Premier League team has seen three players get to 20 goals.
Craig shakespeare sent on Islam slimani for shinji okazaki at the break and the algerian was involved in the goal that halved the deficit in the 59th minute, winning the header from a throw-in that enabled Wilfred ndidi to slip a pass that sent Vardy free. Lloris was out quickly but sent the ball only as far as ndidi, who forced it out to Ben Chilwell. the left back beat alderweireld to slot a finish beyond Lloris and Jan Vertonghen on the line.
the fightback did not last long. Four minutes later more slick build-up by spurs saw alderweireld’s deep cross nodded back by Victor Wanyama and in by Kane. soon it was four. the ball went from right to left, defence to attack via sissoko and Kane to son. he checked his run, cut the ball back and struck a delicious curling shot from 20 yards.
Kane ensured that Leicester were ripped to shreds at this stadium like never before. spurs doubters, you have been warned.