WEST HAM HIT BACK TO DRAW 3-3

Gareth Bale made his first appearance for Tottenham Hotspur for more than seven years but his return was overshadowed as West Ham United scored three times late on to earn a 3-3 draw yesterday.

With Bale on the substitutes bench, Tottenham started in sensational fashion as Son Heung-min scored inside a minute and Harry Kane scored twice as the hosts led 3-0 after 16 minutes .

Welshman Bale, on loan from Real Madrid, came off the bench in the 71st minute, but instead of a glorious introduction, West Ham ripped up the script with a stupendous fight back.

Fabian Balbuena’s 82nd minute header and Davinson Sanchez’s own goal gave West Ham hope.

Bale almost scored his side’s fourth but West Ham’s Manuel Lanzini struck a wonder-goal deep in stoppage time to earn his side an unlikely point.

Meanwhile, Sheffield United and Fulham picked up their fi rst point each of the Premier League campaign after a cagey 1-1 draw at Bramall Lane on Sunday.

Ademola Lookman scored the opening goal in the 77th minute, but constant pressure from United enabled them to level the game in the 85th from the penalty spot through Billy Sharp.

After being dominated in the fi rst half, Fulham had a golden opportunity to take the lead in the second from the penalty spot when Jack Robinson was found to have handled the ball in the area. But Aleksandar Mitrovic thumped the ball onto the crossbar and over.

The visitors went ahead when Lookman dribbled past two defenders before smashing the ball past goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale for his fi rst Premier League goal.

However, the Blades won a penalty following a VAR review after Mitrovic kicked Robinson while competing for a high ball, and substitute Sharp made no mistake to beat Alphonse Areola in the Fulham goal.

Mitrovic nearly settled the contest in stoppage time when he rose above the United defence to connect with Lookman’s cross, but his header sailed inches wide of the near post.

Earlier, Alexis Mac Allister’s fi rst Premier League goal gave Brighton a dramatic 1-1 draw in their derby against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

Palace took the lead in the 19th minute when Tariq Lamptey was harshly adjudged to have pulled down Michy Batshuayi in the penalty area.

Ivory Coast forward Wilfried Zaha sent Brighton keeper Mat Ryan the wrong way from the spot for his fourth goal of the season.

But, after a poor clearance from Palace defender Joel Ward, Argentine substitute Mac Allister fi red home via a slight deflection from the edge of the area in the 90th minute.

Brighton had defender Lewis Dunk sent off for a two-footed lunge on Gary Cahill in stoppage-time.

Palace have now gone three league games without a win, while Brighton have won only once in their five matches this season. —