ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Tottenham 1
Newcastle 0
LONDON • Tottenham left it late again yesterday. Son Heung-min's second goal in four days since returning from the Asian Cup earned a 1-0 Premier League win over Newcastle that allowed Spurs to leapfrog Manchester City into second place.
Spurs also struck at the death to beat Fulham and Watford in recent weeks to ensure they have kept pace since Harry Kane and Dele Alli were injured.
Mauricio Pochettino's men are within four points of leaders Liverpool (61), who are in action at West Ham tomorrow, but just as significantly, they opened up a 10-point lead on Arsenal in the race for a top-four finish and Champions League football next season.
In keeping with a season of struggles, Tottenham were forced all the way by a dogged Newcastle, who were buoyed by a stunning 2-1 win over Manchester City in midweek.
Lucas Moura headed wide from point-blank range, Erik Lamela hit the woodwork and Christian Eriksen's flick was somehow hooked off the line by Fabian Schar - until Son settled it seven minutes from time.
"The two games were very important," said the South Korean, who scored the equaliser against Watford in midweek and compensated for Kane's absence with his ninth goal in 10 appearances and his 14th of the season.
14
Goals Son Heung-Min has been involved in his last 10 games (nine scored, five assisted) for Tottenham.
"With six points we have had a great week. It was a difficult game, but we are happy to get the six points and we deserved this one."
He had a helping hand from Martin Dubravka, the goalkeeper who let the powerful effort slip under his grasp to undo all his side's good work in holding out for 83 minutes.
Newcastle's club record £20 million signing (S$35.5 million), playmaker Miguel Almiron, did not have international clearance to make his debut, so Rafael Benitez named the same side that started against City with the same game plan to defend deep and frustrate their opponents.
Fernando Llorente, the 33-year-old match winner against Watford, was benched after playing the full 90 minutes in Spurs' three previous games, leaving Moura to lead the line. But the Brazilian fluffed his lines, as did his teammates despite camping in the Newcastle half.
The hosts forced Dubravka into only one serious save before the break when former Magpies midfielder Moussa Sissoko turned a well-worked corner towards goal.
A similar pattern followed in the second half, but the visitors nearly caught Spurs cold with a flowing counter-attack when Salomon Rondon's powerful header from DeAndre Yedlin's cross came back off the post with Hugo Lloris stranded.
Lloris also had to make a flying save to turn a curling effort from Ayoze Perez behind.
But Spurs laid siege to Newcastle's wall of 10 men and had their reward. Pochettino was delighted by the character of his side, who have bounced back after being knocked out of both domestic Cups.
Asked if he will be supporting Arsenal who travel to City today, he said: "No, no way!"
He also questioned why they are being asked to play their next league game against Leicester on Sunday in the week of their Champions League last-16 first-leg game at home to Borussia Dortmund, who play their fixture on the Saturday.
"Twenty-four hours can make a massive difference," he said.
"It is difficult to understand."
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS
LONDON: Manchester City swept back to the top of the Premier League as Gabriel Jesus struck twice in the champions' 3-1 win over Everton, while Christian Eriksen kept Tottenham in the title hunt in a last-gasp 1-0 victory against Burnley on Saturday.
Jesus shines as City regain top spot, Eriksen fires Spurs
Solskjaer vows to make Man Utd players run faster and further despite injury crisis OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER says his Manchester United regime will be a survival of the fittest — despite his
Solskjaer Vows To Sign Right Players For Man Utd - Thewistle
LONDON: Manchester City's Raheem Sterling struck twice to beat Crystal Palace 3-1 at Selhurst Park in the Premier League on Sunday (Apr 14). The English champions had earlier moved a point ahead
Crystal Palace shock defending champions Manchester City in
Bayern Munich won the Bundesliga title for a seventh straight season after beating Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1 to finish ahead of rivals Borussia Dortmund. The Bavarians, who can secure a domestic
Bayern Munich win Bundesliga title for seventh successive
Leonardo Bonucci accused his team-mate of being partly to blame for abuse; Leonardo Bonucci says 'no to racism' after Juventus team-mate Moise Kean was abused of shocking racial abuse in
Moise Kean: Juventus star Leonardo Bonucci finally responds
Newcastle took a huge step towards securing their Premier League survival as Ayoze Perez sealed a 1-0 win against Leicester on Friday. Rafael Benitez's side moved 10 points clear of the relegation
Football: Perez heads Newcastle closer to Premier League
New-look Germany make promising start with Serbia draw Germany's new-look team made a promising return to the international stage with a 1-1 draw against Serbia in a friendly on Wednesday
New-look Germany make promising start with Serbia draw
Barcalona beat Real Madrid to reach Copa del Rey final Madrid: FC Barcelona were outplayed by Real Madrid for much of their Copa del Rey semifinal second l
Real Madrid win at Barcelona to reach Copa del Rey final
Pochettino wants Spurs players to connect with 'superior energy' maybe they are more cautious or more brave. "You say, 'Oh, this guy is brave'. He's ready to work. And maybe
Pochettino says Spurs need to be 'brave' in their new stadium
Soccer Football - Champions League - Round of 16 Second Leg - Real Madrid v Ajax Amsterdam - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - March 5, 2019 Ajax's Lasse Schone scores their fourth goal REUTERS/Su
Shellshocked Madrid knocked out of Champions League by
"We knew one position where we needed to add depth was wide receiver, so we looked at players who could come in and make plays," Fox said. "We also knew we needed to add to our pass rush and our kicking game. The incoming class is comprised of good football players who will push our returning players by providing competition on a daily basis.
Sissoko could miss two weeks - Pochettino | FOX Sports Asia
Son Heung-min is no longer an invisible star LONDON • A half-hour or so after Tottenham Hotspur had edged out Manchester City in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final, the club's new stadium was all but empty.
Son Heung-min is no longer an invisible star - Virginia Bus
virginiabus.info/sports/son-heung-min-is-no-longer-an-invisible-star/
Son Heung-min is no longer an invisible star. By. Virgini - May 31, 2019. 0. 4. Share on Facebook. Tweet on Twitter. LONDON • A half-hour or so after Tottenham
Don't Expect News Of A Son Heung-Min Wife Anytime Soon
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen