23rd January, 2016
An incredible 25-yard volley from Dele Alli helped Tottenham come from a goal behind to defeat Crystal Palace.
The visitors went behind when Wilfried Zaha’s cross was turned into his own net by Spurs defender Jan Vertonghen.
But Harry Kane gave Tottenham a deserved equaliser when he powerfully headed in Nacer Chadli’s dinked cross.
Alli then flicked the ball up, then back over his own head before volleying into the bottom corner, before Chadli curled in a late third goal.
-Are Tottenham title contenders?-
Tottenham have never finished in the top three of the Premier League, and this was a huge test of their character and spirit – and they passed it with flying colours.
This well-deserved victory keeps them only five points behind surprise leaders Leicester, but they had to show their fighting spirit.
They were frustrated by a well-organised Palace team, who took a shock lead through Vertonghen’s first-half own goal.
But three pieces of skill saw Spurs fight back for the win. Kane’s header maintained a remarkable run of form that has now seen him score 12 times in his past 14 Premier League appearances.
Alli, who is only 19, showed wonderful composure to take a touch 25 yards out, flick the ball back over his head to deceive Palace’s Mile Jedinak, and then volley past Wayne Hennessey. A third goal, a stunning finish from Chadli, in the third minute of injury time made the match look a bit more comfortable then it was and was harsh on a battling home side.