LONDON (AP) – Tottenham Hotspur took a small but potentially significant step towards remaining in the Premier League after drawing 1-1 at home to Leeds United on Monday.
Spurs sit just above the drop zone, two points clear of relegation rivals West Ham.
Tottenham took the lead in the 50th minute with a great goal from Matthijs Tells.
However, with 15 minutes remaining, a foul on Telus’ Ethan Ampadu resulted in a penalty for Leeds, which was coolly converted by Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Spurs have two remaining games away to Chelsea and at home to Everton, while West Ham play away to Newcastle and then at home to Leeds on the final day.
One of the two will join Burnley and Wolves, who have already been relegated, in next season’s Championship.
Spurs entered the game in great shape after winning two straight games, but although they dominated in possession and shots on goal in the first half, it took five minutes of the second half to break the deadlock.
Pedro Polo’s corner kick was cleared by the unmarked Tellus, who coolly slotted it into the top corner from 20 meters out. It was the centre-forward’s first goal since January 7th.
But Telus turned villains after 24 minutes when his high foot was adjudged to have made contact with Ethan Ampadu’s head inside the box.
When the referee pointed to the spot-kick, Calvert-Lewin, who had been denied a penalty in the first half after a video review, confidently took the spot-kick.
Both teams struggled in the final minutes and an incredible 15 minutes of stoppage time, but no further goals were scored and Spurs’ goalkeeper Antonin Kinski was outstanding. They will be satisfied that their fate remains in their own hands.
“We played a good game, but there was a lot of pressure,” Tottenham manager Roberto de Zerbi said. “We didn’t play calmly. We wanted to win quickly without passing. When you’re fighting for relegation, you can’t play every game calmly.
“Leeds played well and I hope they can play like that in the next game against West Ham.”
Spurs have picked up eight of the 12 points available since De Zerbi lost his debut against Sunderland on April 12.
“We deserve to be awake,” he said. “We will fight to the end. … Even if we had won today, we wouldn’t be done yet.”
Hull secure play-off place
Hull beat Millwall 2-0 in London with second-half goals from Mo Belloumi and Joe Gerhardt, and will now face either Southampton or Middlesbrough in the Championship play-off final.
Bellomi broke the deadlock in the 64th minute with a left-footed shot, and Gerhardt fired a low shot past the Millwall goalkeeper.
The win leaves Hull just one game away from qualifying for the Premier League for the first time since being relegated in 2017.
Southampton and Middlesbrough drew 0-0 in the first leg on Saturday and will play again on Tuesday.
The play-off final will be held at Wembley on May 23rd.
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