Son shines as Tottenham elevate hopes of reaching the semis

Heung-Min Son was the hero of Spurs, as his double achieved a decisive 3-1 win over rivals West Ham to spice up his hopes of reaching the semi-finals.

Spurs took the lead within the first 10 minutes when Kurt Zouma – who was repeatedly booed by the house aspect’s followers for a cat-kissing accident earlier this 12 months – transformed Harry Kane’s cross right into a web (9) below strain from Son.

Antonio Conte’s group sparked a brief assault with 5 gamers knocked out by the hammers and one other fast break from Son’s shot on the publish simply minutes after the opening match. Nevertheless it wasn’t lengthy earlier than the South Korean made his mark within the match.

As soon as once more, Kane was on the middle of the motion because the England captain performed his favourite teammate via the online on the left, earlier than Son fired an unstoppable shot (24) into the higher left nook of Lukasz Fabianski’s web.

However regardless of the hosts’ early dominance, West Ham introduced again a reminder of why they refused to go far on this top-four race. Craig Dawson gained with a click on of a button from Aaron Cresswell’s swing nook, leaving Stated Benharama with the easy process of ending at shut (35) in an excellent performing routine.

Son West Ham made the value for Michael Antonio’s second-half loss when he sped off Kane’s flick to go Fabianski – and ship Conte to raucous celebrations on the touchline.

David Moyes’ Hammers and their followers entered the match within the Land of Desires after their Europa League victory over Sevilla – however the hard-hitting 120-minute load on Thursday evening took a toll on their gamers’ legs early on on this.

Defender Zuma warned of his neglect when he gave the ball cheaply on two events earlier than Spurs’ opening recreation, earlier than giving fellow hosts Cresswell an early benefit.

Cresswell’s poor go from behind was picked up by Matt Doherty, who fed Kane to chop a low cross at Son’s observe. The striker was forward of the ball however Zouma did the work for him together with his outstretched leg touching the ball and sending it away from Fabianski.

Kane nearly went from the champ to zero as Antonio picked up his sluggish again go, who fired huge into the penalty space when he ought to have carried out higher from the appropriate flank of the realm.

However Tottenham got here again and Dejan Kulusevski went on an amazing solo tour, discovering Son’s cross cross, who shot off the publish.

The South Korean went higher mid-half as he discovered an excellent spin and a via go from Kane down the left channel. Tottenham Hotspur’s No. 7 saved Zuma, who allowed a shot throughout Fabianski’s publish and it was a superb end into the highest nook.

It was the thirty eighth time Son and Kane mixed a Premier League purpose, with the England captain now offering 51 assists within the high flight. Kane additionally owns a purpose or help in six of his seven Premier League matches.

However Spurs settled on their laurels and failed so as to add extra benefits that allowed West Ham to make a comeback.

Dawson beat 4 Tottenham defenders below Cresswell’s spending and this aerial win was essential for Benrahma to beat the ball and Hugo Lloris from six yards.

West Ham had been relieved to enter the second half of the competitors however Tottenham tried to show the spiral after the break. Son led a counterattack earlier than Kane slipped into the online, however Fabianski did nicely by standing on his personal two toes and stopping the striker from scoring his sixth purpose in 5 matches.

The momentum generated by that chance was halted when two protesters entered the pitch and tried to connect themselves to the purpose posts, in mirror photos of Everton’s cease at Newcastle on Thursday, and West Ham entered the match.

Antonio missed one other alternative when he hit Cresswell’s cross from about eight yards, earlier than being changed by Andriy Yarmolenko, who fired into the aspect netting down the left in a matter of minutes.

Because the second half drew to an in depth, West Ham started to tire after their European exploits – and their opponents dominated the match. Spurs cried demanding a penalty when one other Kane hit the via ball Sergio Reguilon Ben Johnson, however referee Anthony Taylor dismissed the hosts’ complaints. The entrance three of the spurs mixed then, which resulted in a shot alternative for Kulusevsky, who fired over the purpose.

Though he excelled in giving the ball on the essential moments, Kane turned down an enormous alternative to overhaul West Ham with 10 minutes left. The Spurs spell stayed in place and was performed by Dink excessive, however he could not assist however put strain on him.

However this missed alternative didn’t matter as Son took the lead after Kane hit Lloris’ one-on-one purpose kick to seal the important three factors.

Because the end result wrapped up, Spurs supporters rose to their toes to greet Conte with chants of ‘Antonio, Antonio’, with full religion that they may attain the highest 4 and safe a seat on the European summit desk for subsequent season.

What then?

After the worldwide break, Tottenham had a good match streak in April – with solely two rivals (Aston Villa, ninth and Leicester, 10) at present within the high half of the desk, with the remaining three (Newcastle, Brighton and Brentford) close to the underside of the desk.

Will probably be the primary assembly of Tottenham Hotspur after the break at residence towards Newcastle on Sunday 3 April reside Sky Sports activities Tremendous Sunday; The match kicks off at 4:30 pm.

All of West Ham’s subsequent matches can be performed in London, beginning with Everton at residence on April 3, the match earlier than going through Lyon within the Europa League quarter-final. The Hammers will face Brentford on April 10 between the legs, earlier than touring to Lyon.