WHEN Jamie Vardy touched fists with Harry Kane at the end he should have said: “Thanks.”
As in, ‘Thanks for missing a large chunk of the second half of the season and giving me a better chance of winning the Golden Boot.’
Spurs took the lead through a James Justin own goal after Son’s effort was heavily deflectedCredit: Getty Images – Getty
For on this evidence, had Kane been fully fit for the whole campaign, Vardy, nor anybody else for that matter, would have had a whiff of it.
As it is, Vardy remains in pole position to finish this stuttered season as the top-flight’s top scorer, despite his blank here.
The Leicester frontman currently leads the pack with 23 League goals.
Kane’s quickfire double just before the break took his Prem tally for term so far to 17.
Not bad for someone who when football restarted last month had not played since rupturing his hamstring on New Year’s Day.
Kane has played six fewer top-flight matches than Vardy, but outshone his former England team-mate here as he kept up his fine form against the Foxes.
Harry Kane scored two goals in three minutes to kill off the gameCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The Spurs ace has now scored an incredible 16 goals in his last 14 appearances against Leicester in all competitions.
Victory kept alive Tottenham’s hopes of salvaging what for them has been a disappointing season by qualifying for the Europa League.
And it increased the chances of Leicester joining them in the hat for the continent’s second competition as the visitors’ Champions League ambitions took a major dent.
Qualification for that lies in their own hands but only because they host United in their final League game on Sunday.
The Red Devils have a game in hand at home to already-safe West Ham on Wednesday.
And the three-goal advantage Brendan Rodgers’ Foxes had over United was wiped out here by Kane and Co.
This was certainly how Tottenham had envisaged ending the first full season in their magnificent new home – playing in front of an empty stadium in July.
Boss Jose Mourinho and his men would have been jetting to South Korea on a lucrative pre-season tour – had Covid not struck and blew all plans to smithereens.
Tottenham all-but sealed their three points in a dominant first halfCredit: AFP or licensors
Both managers named an unchanged side following victories last time out.
Lucas Moura was a slight doubt for this clash after picking up a knock at Newcastle and the Brazilian was screaming in pain after just 15 seconds following an innocuous challenge with Leicester’s Luke Thomas – who kept his place following an impressive display against Sheffield United.
But it was the visitors who were hurting as they fell behind in the sixth minute.
A swift Spurs counter attack saw Kane send Son Heung-min down their left with a beautiful pass from the outside of his right boot.
The South Korean raced raced away before he cut inside, leaving Ryan Bennett, and unleashed a shot which found its way into the net via a large deflection off James Justin, who was credited with an own goal.
VAR Stuart Attwell allowed the goal to stand after deciding Kane, who had run ahead of Son was not in keeper Kasper Schmeichel’s line of vision as replays showed the England captain was undoubtedly offside.
Kane made it 3-0 just three minutes after scoring his firstCredit: Reuters
Leicester hit back strongly, with Vardy denied an equaliser by a Toby Alderweireld’s superb block and later another one from Ben Davies.
Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris then had to dive full-stretch to his left to keep out Ayoze Perez’s superb chest and volley from a Thomas cross.
Schmeichel pulled off an even more spectacular one-handed save to tip Son’s shot over the bar after Harry Winks’ long pass had sprung the Foxes offside trap.
Just when it looked like Leicester might draw level, they were undone again by another swift Spurs break from one end of the pitch to the other.
There was little sign of what was to come when Youri Tielemans corner was headed clear by Moura.
But Thomas’ poor control left the door ajar and suddenly Spurs were in as Giovani Lo Celso laid the ball to the rampaging Moura on his left.
And when the Samba star played in Kane, the Three Lions captain slotted his left-footed shot across the oncoming Schmeichel and into the bottom far corner to make it 2-0 in the 37th minute.
Kane made it 3-0 with his second of the match three minutes later.
Again it stemmed from another gaffe by Leicester rookie Thomas, although there was nothing erroneous about the finish.
Tottenham did Man Utd and Chelsea a huge favourCredit: PA:Press Association
Kane cut inside Bennett from the left curled a right-footed screamer around Schmeichel into the same corner where his second had nestled.
There was still time for Perez shot in anger to force another smart save from Lloris before the visitors went into the break wondering what had hit them in the last ten minutes or so.
Kane went close to adding another in the 54th minute – following Moura’s huge punt upfield – but the shot was deflected wide by Morgan for a corner.
Leicester boss Rodgers sent on Demarai Gray for the beleaguered Bennett during the break and the sub had a 25 yard free-kick tipped over by Lloris.
First look at the new Amazon documentary ‘All or Nothing: Tottenham Hotspur’
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
