Southampton Stun Spurs With Late Comeback Win

By Max Wise

Southampton stunned Tottenham Hotspurs with two late goals to ease their relegation fears and blow the race for Champions League spot wide open.

Not long ago, Tottenham were muscling their way with Liverpool and Manchester City for the Premier League title, but a run of three defeats and a draw in their last four league games has evaporated their title aspirations into thin air.

With Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea still to play, Spurs now face a real battle to keep their place in the top four.

Southampton’s victory takes them to 30 points, two points and two places above Cardiff City, who occupy the final relegation spot.

In a bid to score the game’s first goal, Tottenham hit the woodwork twice in the space of five minutes.

First, Southampton defender, Maya Yoshida, diverted a Tottenham cross against his own post in the 24th minute, then a minute later Christian Eriksen curled a free-kick against the crossbar from the edge of the box.

The returning Dele Alli combined delightfully with Harry Kane to open the scoring in the 26th minute after the English striker got to the end of a chipped pass to the back post before sliding in a finish for his seventh goal in his last five games against the Saints.

Spurs almost doubled their lead through Harry Kane straight after the recess, but the England international’s low shot towards the bottom corner was superbly tipped wide by Angus Gunn in the Southampton goal.

Southampton finally got behind the Tottenham defense on a rare occasion in the 58th minute, however, Nathan Redmond sliced his shot into the side netting.

Tottenham were made to pay for their profligacy in front of goal in the 77th minute as Stuart Armstrong’s cut back evaded three Spurs defenders before landing on the feet of Yan Valery, who scuffed in the equalizer.

Three minutes later, the Champions League quarterfinalists went behind thanks to a stunning free-kick from James Ward-Prowse. 

The England midfielder curled in a stunning free-kick at Old Trafford last weekend, and he repeated his heroics with another belter that gave Hugo Lloris no chance for a priceless Saints victory.