LIVERPOOL: Harry Kane’s 100th Premier League goal from the penalty spot deep into stoppage time snatched a controversial point for Tottenham Hotspur from a dramatic finale in a 2-2 draw at Liverpool on Sunday.
Mohamed Salah’s stunning 91st-minute solo run and finish for his second goal of the game looked to have handed Liverpool a vital victory in the battle for a place in the top four.
But Kane, who had already seen a penalty saved by Loris Karius five minutes from time, converted second time round from the spot with virtually the last kick of the game after Liverpool’s £75 million January recruit Virgil van Dijk was adjudged to have brought down Erik Lamela.
Kane’s 21st league goal of the season also edged him one back ahead of Salah in the race to be the Premier League’s top scorer, but Liverpool were left furious at referee Jon Moss and his assistants.
A point leaves third-placed Liverpool still two points ahead of Tottenham, who remain in fifth.
The majority of a 53,000 crowd had barely taken their seats before being brought to their feet inside three minutes when Eric Dier’s misplaced pass freed Salah in behind the Spurs defense to slot confidently past Hugo Lloris.
Van Dijk had enjoyed a fine game until the final act as he produced an excellent block to deny Son Heung-min and it was Mousa Dembele who had Tottenham’s first attempt on target that Karius trapped low to his right five minutes before half-time.
Despite enjoying the bulk of possession, Tottenham struggled to penetrate Liverpool’s three-man midfield and were often caught out on the counter-attack.
However, even when the Liverpool defense was opened up, Karius came to their rescue with a brave block to deny Son before Alli pulled his follow-up effort wide.
In Tottenham’s desperation to get back in the game, Alli was then booked for diving as Dejan Lovren carefully pulled out of a challenge inside the area.
Tottenham have now won just one of 19 visits to Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal in Mauricio Pochettino’s four-year reign in charge.
But they did salvage the point their second-half display at least deserved thanks in no small part to a stunning strike from substitute Victor Wanyama with his first touch.
The Kenyan had only been on the pitch a minute when he latched onto a punch from Karius to crash an unstoppable drive into the top corner.
Spurs then thought they had the chance to win the game was Kane was brought down by Karius and Moss pointed to the spot.
After a long discussion with one of his assistants, Moss stood by his original decision despite Kane arguably being in an offside position as he latched onto Alli’s through ball.
However, justice was done for Liverpool when Karius repelled Kane’s poorly hit penalty.
Moments later Anfield was in raptures as Salah escaped from three Spurs challenges before dinking high beyond Lloris to send Jurgen Klopp racing down the touchline in celebration.
That joy was short-lived, though, as Spurs were awarded a second penalty, this time by Moss’s assistant for Van Dijk’s late swipe at Lamela.
Kane kept his composure to send Karius the wrong way for his Premier League century and maintain Tottenham’s Champions League hopes.
Harry Kane’s 100th Premier League goal saves Spurs at Liverpool
Harry Kane’s 100th Premier League goal saves Spurs at Liverpool
Pegula and Anisimova win to set up all-American semi-final showdown in Dubai
- Both of last year’s finalists Andreeva and Tauson eliminated after marathon matches in Thursday afternoon’s daylight quarterfinals
DUBAI: WTA 1000 week at this year’s Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships is heading for an epic conclusion with two top-ranked players sealing progression to Friday’s semi-finals after mouthwatering marathons on Centre Court today.
In a quarter-final line-up where three of the four matches featured first-time meetings, the opening match pitted last year’s defeated finalist, Denmark’s towering Clara Tauson, against fourth seed Jessica Pegula.
Prior to play, neither player had lost a set in Dubai this year and the early throes of the tie demonstrated exactly why, as both exchanged blistering baseline groundstroke winners under the early afternoon sunshine. After a tense 40-plus minutes, a single break of serve was enough for Pegula to take the first set, 6-3.
The second set, however, saw a sharp reversal of fortunes. Tauson, widely regarded as a junior prodigy after surpassing 2011 Dubai champion’s Caroline Wozniacki record as the youngest winner of the Danish tennis championship before she became the first Dane to top the junior world rankings, rediscovered her ruthless streak.
With crosswinds swirling around Centre Court, the Dane took more risks and found the desired levels of accuracy as she broke Pegula twice in succession to claim the set 6-2 and level the tie.
With the delicately poised final set proceeding on serve until 3-3, Pegula struck a decisive break in game seven to move ahead. After respective holds of serve, the American held once more to clinch the match, seal progression to the final four, and ensure a minimum of $197,000 in prize money as well as 390 ranking points.
“I’m starting to feel more like myself again after a tough stretch earlier in the season,” said the World No. 5, before serving an ominous warning to her Dubai title rivals. “I’ve been serving better and moving well physically, and the work with my coaches has helped me get back to the roots of my game.”
Pegula will face second seed and World No. 6 Amanda Anisimova after she triumphed 2-6, 7-5, 7-6(4), against defending champion and fifth seed Mirra Andreeva in a thrill-a-minute encounter that clocked in at just under 160 minutes.
In only the second meeting between the two players — Anisimova edged Andreeva in a three-setter in Miami last year — the pair produced arguably the tie of the tournament so far. For three sets, the rollercoaster contest had everything; power, touch, stunning shot selection and execution, dramatic rallies, and the moments of world-class quality expected when two top five seeds meet.
After sharing the first two sets, and with a near-capacity Centre Court enthralled by the pendulum-like momentum, the match ramped up yet another gear in the deciding set. Andreeva went 3-1 up after breaking her American opponent twice in a row, but Anisimova hit back by winning four games on the spin to serve for the match at 5-4.
Andreeva, the youngest winner in both Dubai and any WTA 1000 event, was not yet ready to relinquish her title defence, lifting her game to win the next three games and move 6-5 ahead. Anisimova, after holding serve to make it 6-6, started the tiebreaker with greater purpose, eventually holding the third of her four match points to dethrone Andreeva and seal an all-American semi-final with Pegula.
“It was almost me in tears there at the end,” said Anisimova, referring to Andreeva, who sat inconsolably crying post-match. “It was such a tough battle, Meera fought so hard today, she’s playing so well and was fighting like a champion on court. I feel like these types of matches, it’s always tough that someone has lose at the end of the day. But, yeah, I feel like we both played great, and I’m really happy to get through.
“I love playing here in Dubai and I’m really excited for every match. Every point is going to be different, and I really enjoy that challenge. I play against Jess tomorrow, so another great fight, and hopefully we’ll have a good match. It’s always exciting against another American, she’s always bringing her best, and I feel like we always have great matches.”
