Tottenham threw away a two-goal lead as Southampton produced one of the close football scores of the weekend in the Premier League. Antonio Conte’s fourth-placed side appeared to be edging out Manchester United with a 3-1 lead in the 74th minute. Yet, Theo Walcott ignited a late Southampton comeback with a close-range shot, which was followed by Ward-93rd-minute Prowse’s penalty, to earn a critical home draw, keeping them two points from safety. Che Adams equalized for the Saints 43 seconds into the second half after Pedro Porro scored in first-half stoppage time. Spurs increased their lead to two goals when Harry Kane’s header put the visitors ahead again, and Ivan Perisic scored his first goal for the club.
Antonio Conte’s fourth-placed side appeared to be edging out Manchester United with a 3-1 lead in the 74th minute. Yet, Theo Walcott ignited a late Southampton comeback with a close-range shot, which was followed by Ward-93rd-minute Prowse’s penalty, to earn a critical home draw, keeping them two points from safety. Che Adams equalized for the Saints 43 seconds into the second half after Pedro Porro scored in first-half stoppage time. Spurs increased their lead to two goals when Harry Kane’s header put the visitors ahead again, and Ivan Perisic scored his first goal for the club.
Southampton, on the other hand, responded immediately after the break, as Walcott set up Adams, who slid in an equalizer for his 10th goal of the season in all competitions. Tottenham’s lead was restored in the 65th minute when Kane headed in at the back post following a brilliant cross by replacement Dejan Kulusevski. England captain Wayne Rooney’s 21st Premier League goal was also his ninth headed goal of the season, tying Duncan Ferguson’s 1997-98 single-season record. Tottenham then appeared to be on pace for all three points when substitute Perisic scored his first Tottenham goal in his 36th appearance with a downward volley in the 74th minute.
But, just three minutes later, Walcott converted from close range following Sekou Mara’s knockdown to put the Saints back in the game. Southampton had a chance to complete the comeback when a penalty was granted in the 90th minute after Tottenham replacement Pape Sarr was fouled in the area during a corner. Ward-Prowse, who had missed his previous two penalty shots, converted this time to level the game against his former Southampton teammate Fraser Forster. Clement Lenglet headed over from Perisic’s cross to cap a miserable afternoon for Conte’s players.
“The players must accept responsibility. I see a lot of selfish players, but no team,” Tottenham boss Antonio Conte said. “We are not a team right now, we lack enthusiasm, and we are not prepared to throw our hearts onto the pitch for the badge and to demonstrate a sense of belonging. And if you don’t have this, you’re going to conclude the season poorly.”
“I’m filled with pride, pride in the guys’ performance on the field, pride in how the crowd supported us in the final 15 minutes, which I felt was a turning point for us. Of course, we must analyze the game to see what went wrong, but I don’t believe we deserved to be 3-1 down, and the comeback merely demonstrates how much football and character we have in our locker room,” Southampton boss Ruben Selles said. “When we conceded the 3-1 [goal], the boys came together and communicated with one another, as shown on the field. We went for it because we knew we could get the second one. It was difficult to play three days after losing to Brentford, but we showed physicality, football, character, and unity, and we witnessed a stadium that was bouncing with the team, for which I am extremely happy.”
Southampton came back from two goals behind to avoid defeat for the second time this season (also a 2-2 draw against Leeds in August), with only Manchester City (P3 W2 D1) avoiding defeat after falling two goals down more times this season. Tottenham has conceded 14 away goals since the Premier League restarted following the World Cup break, winning only two of their seven away games during this period (D2 L3). Harry Kane has nine Premier League headed goals this season, tying Duncan Ferguson’s 1997-98 single-season record. This was only the second Premier League game in which both clubs made at least two substitutions.
For more football results, click here
