Son Heung-min’s late equaliser completed a stirring Tottenham fightback from two goals down in their 2-2 draw against top-four rivals Manchester United on Friday (AEST).
Just days after their 6-1 thrashing at Newcastle, troubled Tottenham looked set for another heavy Premier League defeat after United struck twice in the first half.
Watch the world’s best footballers every week with beIN SPORTS on Kayo. LIVE coverage from Bundesliga, Ligue 1, Serie A, Carabao Cup, EFL & SPFL. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford were United’s scorers, but in their first match under caretaker manager Ryan Mason, Tottenham showed the kind of spirit that has been sorely lacking for much of their turbulent campaign.
Pedro Porro’s goal early in the second half gave them a lifeline and Son’s close-range strike capped the escape act in the closing stages at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
While Tottenham’s comeback was something of a morale boost during a difficult period, the result was still a blow to their faint hopes of qualifying for the Champions League via a top-four finish.
Fifth-placed Tottenham are six points behind fourth-placed United, who have two games in hand, and eight adrift of third-placed Newcastle.
Tottenham, without a trophy since 2008, still look likely to miss out on a lucrative Champions League berth, leaving them facing an uncertain future as the pressure on chairman Daniel Levy mounts.
MORE COVERAGE
Inside the beer-soaked Hollywood celebration … and the Aussie in the thick of it
Kerr’s Champions League dream falls short again as Chelsea knocked out by Euro giants
‘Game over’: City have one hand on PL trophy as ‘terrified’ Gunners fall apart in ugly meltdown
MAGPIES STAR’S ‘DISRESPECTFUL’ ASSIST DESTROYS HAPLESS TOFFEES
Newcastle moved another step closer to Champions League football next season and pushed Everton ever closer to the Championship with a 4-1 win at Goodison Park on Thursday.
The defeat leaves Everton still rooted in the relegation zone, two points adrift of safety, and with a huge task ahead to extend their 69-year stay in the English top flight.
Newcastle scored five times inside the first 21 minutes in hitting Tottenham for six on Sunday.
But the Magpies had barely threatened before they went in front on 28 minutes.
Jordan Pickford should have done better when he parried Joelinton’s shot back into the danger area and Wilson pounced for his fifth goal in six games.
Pickford made some measure of amends for the first goal with a stunning save to deny Joe Willock doubling Newcastle’s lead 20 minutes from time.
But Everton collapsed once Joelinton did make it 2-0 with a simple header from Willock’s cross.
Wilson then curled a brilliant third goal into the top corner from outside the box.
Even when Everton did finally find the net, it was a fluke as Dwight McNeil’s corner wrong-footed his former Burnley teammate Pope.
Within a minute it was 4-1 as Alexander Isak came off the bench to lead the Everton defence a merry dance and then square for Jacob Murphy to tap into an unguarded net.
Former Newcastle striker Michael Owen described Isak’s mazy run as “possibly the best assist I’ve ever seen” on Twitter.
TalkSPORT pundit Trevor Sinclair was effusive in his praise for Isak as well.
“Isak’s skill there is extraordinary,” Sinclair said.
“I would go as far as saying it’s disrespectful, the way that he dribbled and waltzed in and out of the Everton defenders.”
FULL PREMIER LEAGUE RESULTS
Tottenham Hotspur 2-2 Manchester United
Everton 1-4 Newcastle United
Southampton 0-1 Bournemouth
