A second-half whirlwind saw Tottenham Hotspur storm to a 3-0 victory over Manchester United at White Hart Lane last night.
It was the first time that the North Londoners have beaten United at home since 2001.
Drama struck before the game had even started, after the local traffic tried to foil the Red Devils’ chances. The team’s bus was held up and the kickoff time was postponed for nearly half and hour. Leicester had faced Sunderland in the earlier fixture, so it was desperation for Tottenham fans as they knew they needed to slash that 10-point gap, and the added wait caused more anxiety.In the end though the fans need not have worried, as the Spurs slipped comfortably past Louis van Gaal’s side.
Harry Kane was denied early on by David De Gea, but the game was not won until the final stages. Dele Alli, who turned 20 today, got an early birthday treat as he scored in the 70th minute to put the home side 1-0 in front on the end of a Christian Eriksen cross. Toby Alderweireld doubled the lead three minutes later with a header from an Erik Lamela free-kick. Lamela then scored his own under two minutes later to put the result beyond doubt. Lamela was out with a calf strain during the last match, but certainly came back with a bang after he slotted the ball past De Gea. Danny Rose received the long ball before playing Lamela in, who scored as Daly Blind struggled to catch the Argentine.
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Not only were Spurs delighted with all three points, but Jan Vertonghen returned to the starting XI after being sidelined since January. Kevin Wimmer was dropped to the bench, which is arguably harsh, but the Belgian international was a welcome sight.
If Tottenham had lost or drawn, then surely that would have all but ended their title challenge. The memorable win proves that the fight is still in the side and it definitely means that the race is not over. Leicester have confirmed their place in the Champions League, which is absolutely fantastic to see, but that does not mean Mauricio Pochettino and his team have given up. Should the gap have stayed at a 10-point margin, the Foxes would have only needed three out of five wins to secure the title.
If Leicester had walked away with the title because Tottenham lost all of their remaining games, the season would almost come to a bit of an anticlimax. Yes, their story is a fairytale, but part of the intrigue about 2015-16 is the close battle between two teams that have never charged for the Premier League trophy before.
What made 2011 a great season? When Manchester City won the title on the last day, as Sergio Aguero scored in the dying seconds of the 93rd minute. Drama, tension and unpredictability is what makes football at this level the most entertaining show in the world.
Fans are lucky that Tottenham recorded a first home win over the Red Devils in 15 years, as it keeps the suspense alive. The Leicester loyalists who have placed bets on their team to win the league title might begin to feel a little shaky, however.
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