LONDON: Christian Eriksen scored twice before substitute Gylfi Sigurdsson’s stoppage-time goal saw Tottenham Hotspur come from 2-0 down to beat Southampton 3-2 in the Premier League at White Hart Lane on Sunday.
This dramatic victory saw Tim Sherwood’s side keep their hopes of Champions League football alive as they moved up into fifth place, albeit still six points behind fourth-placed Arsenal and having played a game more than their north London rivals.
It looked as if it would be ninth-placed Southampton who would be climbing up the table when the visitors went 2-0 up through goals from England duo Jay Rodriguez and Adam Lallana.
But before half-time Spurs pulled one back through Eriksen and just 44 seconds into the second half the Dane brought the teams level with his second goal.
It seemed the match was heading for a draw when, deep into stoppage time, Sigurdsson struck to complete Spurs’ comeback.
In front of the watching Roy Hodgson, Rodriguez pressed his case for inclusion in the England manager’s World Cup squad by giving the Saints a 19th minute lead.
Spurs right-back Kyle Naughton misjudged Artur Boruc’s long goal kick downfield, ducking under the ball to allow Rodriguez a clear run on goal.
The Saints star still had work to do but made no mistake with a precise finish into the far corner, beyond the reach of Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.
And fewer than 10 minutes later, Southampton were 2-0 up after another Naughton error saw him fail to control the ball as Spurs looked to clear a corner.
Naughton’s mistake allowed Saints striker Rickie Lambert to take possession on the edge of the box.
His neat control and precise pass released fellow England international Lallana on the overlap and the midfielder made no mistake.
Southampton were now 2-0 up in the 28th minute, with Tottenham looking anything but the side that had given Benfica a scare in midweek during a 2-2 draw in Lisbon that nevertheless saw them eliminated on aggregate from the Europa Cup.
But three minutes later, Tottenham pulled a goal back.
And this time it was Southampton’s right-back Nathaniel Clyne, who played a key role by letting a seemingly harmless cross go under his feet and so leaving Eriksen with a simple finish at the far post.
No sooner had the second half kicked off then Spurs were level.
Spurs striker Roberto Soldado shrugged off the challenge of Dejan Lovren and pulled back for Eriksen, who turned the ball in from close range to even things up at 2-2.
Eriksen then had a chance to complete a hat trick but, under pressure from the Saints’ defense, blasted the ball high over the crossbar.
But Tottenham got the third goal they’d been seeking when, two minutes into the four added on at the end of normal time, Sigurdsson, on as a half-time substitute for Mousa Dembele, struck.
Jose Fonte headed out a deep ball into the box and Erkiksen laid it off into the path of Sigurdsson, whose 20-yard shot went low and fast past the right hand of the diving Boruc and into the bottom corner.
Eriksen double sparks Spurs revival against Saints
Eriksen double sparks Spurs revival against Saints
West Ham reach FA Cup quarters after Ouattara’s penalty howler
- The east London club’s first FA Cup quarter-final for 10 years is welcome respite in a difficult season
LONDON: West Ham moved into the FA Cup quarter-finals with a 5-3 penalty shoot-out against Brentford, who paid the price for Dango Ouattara’s spot-kick blunder on Monday.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side twice blew the lead as Jarrod Bowen’s double was canceled out by an Igor Thiago brace to force extra-time at the London Stadium.
But in the shoot-out, Brentford winger Ouattara attempted a chipped ‘Panenka’ penalty, but his woeful effort was straight at West Ham keeper Alphonse Areola.
It was a awful mistake by the Burkina Faso international and West Ham made him pay.
Bowen, Valentin Castellanos, Callum Wilson, Tomas Soucek and Konstantinos Mavropanos all converted their spot-kicks, ensuring West Ham will host Leeds in April for a place in the semifinals.
The east London club’s first FA Cup quarter-final for 10 years is welcome respite in a difficult season.
They sit third bottom of the Premier League table, behind Nottingham Forest on goal difference, with nine games to save themselves from crashing into the Championship.
Seventh in the Premier League and in contention for European qualification, Brentford missed the chance to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 1989.
Haunted by the threat of relegation, Nuno made seven changes to the side that won at Fulham in the league last week as he prioritized their survival bid.
West Ham took the lead in the 19th minute when Mateus Fernandes’ cross to the far post was headed down by Tomas Soucek and Bowen reacted quickest to steer past Brentford keeper Caoimhin Kelleher.
Brentford drew level nine minutes later as Thiago glanced Nathan Collins’ header into the net with his chest, the goal surviving a VAR check for a potential handball and offside.
The Hammers moved back ahead in the 34th minute when Adama Traore was tripped inside the penalty area by Michael Kayode.
Andy Madley didn’t give the spot-kick, but VAR official Constantine Hatzidakis told the referee to consult the pitch-side monitor and he changed his mind after watching the incident again.
Unfazed by the lengthy delay, Bowen sent Kelleher the wrong way from the spot.
Collins’ header was cleared off the line by Ollie Scarles before West Ham’s Axel Disasi missed a golden opportunity, scuffing his chance from close-range after Kelleher denied Soucek.
Kelleher made another fine save from Soucek on the stroke of half-time.
Bowen was unable to complete hat-trick as Kelleher produced yet another good stop from the England forward in the second half.
West Ham’s misses came back to haunt them in the 81st minute when Brentford equalized to force extra-time.
Crysencio Summerville conceded the penalty with a push on Kayode and Thiago stepped up to fire home from the spot.
The Brazilian forward has 21 goals in all competitions in his breakthrough campaign as he pushed for a place in his country’s World Cup squad.
Having used all their substitutes, West Ham finished extra-time with 10 men after Summerville hobbled off in the closing moments.
