WEREN’T Leeds the ones with nothing to play for?
For a season-defining game to keep them in the top-four mix, Tottenham did a fine impression of their north London rivals Arsenal.
Just as meek, passive and rudderless as the Gunners were in the Europa League do-or-die against Villarreal on Thursday, Spurs’ Champions League hopes are now up in smoke.
Caretaker Ryan Mason demanded four wins to keep their hopes alive.
Instead, Spurs were completely off the boil when it mattered most – not that many will be surprised.
That keeper Hugo Lloris was their best player by a distance said it all.
The French stopper kept Tottenham in it but the rest were woeful, all against a side with nothing to challenge for.
Stuart Dallas got Leeds up and running, latching on to Lloris’ save after Sergio Reguillon somehow nearly put into his own net.
Son Heung-min got them back in it, surely a cue to rouse them with so much on the line.
In classic Spurs style, the opposite happened instead.
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Patrick Bamford put Marcelo Bielsa’s side back ahead just before the break, his 15th of the season in front of the watching England manager Gareth Southgate.
And sub Rodrigo wrapped it up late on to leave Tottenham in serious danger of missing out on European football all together.
Spurs were unchanged after thrashing Sheffield United, making it just the fourth time the Fab four of Harry Kane, Son, Gareth Bale and Dele Alli started together this season.
Leeds also stuck to the same XI, with star men Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha returning from injury on the bench.
And Bielsa’s boys flew out of the traps and were ahead 13 minutes in of a helter-skelter opening half via Dallas.
Bamford fired an early warning, latching on to Jack Harrison’s through ball to send Huge Lloris sprawling down to his left – before Pascal Struijk hooked over moments later.
But it was third time lucky for the Whites after Reguillon submitted another entry to his ever-expanding howlers showreel.
The Spanish left-back has had a torrid time of late and was only denied a stunning own goal by the outstretched Lloris.
Harrison’s dangerous low ball from the left was spooned goalbound by Reguillon at the back post, with Lloris’ save falling straight to Dallas to hammer into the roof of the net.
Spurs finally woke up and were level 12 minutes later thanks to Son, who has now scored in all three of Mason’s league games since replacing Jose Mourinho.
Alli was the architect but got lucky as his pass from the middle deflected fortuitously off Diego Llorente.
Falling straight into Son’s path, the South Korean was cool as you like to tuck his 17th league goal of the season past Illan Meslier.
It all of a sudden looked quite the turnaround when Kane dinked over the French stopper, only for it to be ruled off for offside.
VAR Paul Tierney got the dreaded lines out and, while it looked like there was nothing in it, stuck to on-field decision.
And at the end of a madcap half, Leeds sliced and diced Spurs 42 minutes in to take the lead.
Eric Dier’s weak headed clearance was straight to Dallas, who cut inside and managed to work infield to Tyler Roberts just as he was fouled.
Michael Oliver played the advantage and the ball was spread left to Harrison before the winger played in the overlapping Ezgjan Alioski.
With Bale’s tracking non-existent, the North Macedonian pulled it back on a plate for Bamford to poke home from three yards.
Mason held his nerve at the break and was almost rewarded when Son fired just the wrong side of the post.
But the hosts were the side pushing more and Spurs were only still in it thank to Lloris, who pulled off another stunner to deny Mateusz Klich from the right of the box.
Mason finally switched things up after 67 minutes, hooking Alli and the ghostly Bale for Erik Lamela and Lucas Moura.
Serge Aurier and Lamela forced decent saves from Meslier, and Kane clipped the top of the bar with a free-kick.
But the game was wrapped up with six minutes to go as sub Raphinha broke at breakneck speed and squared to fellow replacement Rodrigo to bury.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
