4th April, 2021
Tottenham’s bid for a top-four finish in the Premier League suffered a setback as Joe Willock’s late strike rescued a 2-2 draw for lowly Newcastle.
Jose Mourinho’s side were just five minutes away from moving into fourth place when Willock equalised at St James’ Park.
Joelinton had put Newcastle ahead, but Harry Kane struck twice in four minutes before the break.
Even Kane’s latest heroics weren’t enough for Tottenham though and they now sit in fifth place, two points behind fourth-placed Chelsea with eight games left.
West Ham would climb above both of their London rivals into fourth if they win at Wolves on Monday.
Failure to qualify for next season’s Champions League via a top-four finish would be a major blow to Tottenham’s hopes of persuading Kane to stay at the club.
Willock’s goal could prove invaluable for fourth-bottom Newcastle as they battle to avoid relegation.
Steve Bruce’s side are without a win in seven games and sit three points above third-bottom Fulham, who would go above them if they win at Aston Villa later on Sunday.
Newcastle’s early pressure was rewarded, with an helping hand from Tottenham’s Japhet Tanganga, in the 28th minute.
Tanganga gifted possession to Matt Ritchie with a wayward pass and the Tottenham defender’s team-mates were slow to react as Sean Longstaff found the unmarked Joelinton, who slotted home from close range.
The much-maligned striker’s first goal since November proved a false dawn as Newcastle were ahead for just 90 seconds before Kane, fresh from ending his England goal drought, punished the hosts’ woeful defending.
Trying to cut out Giovani Lo Celso’s pass, Emil Krafth made a hash of clearing and Kane pounced on the ricochet to tap into the empty net.
Four minutes later, Kane bagged his 29th club goal of the season in ruthless style as he raced onto Tanguy Ndombele’s inch-perfect pass and fired into the far corner.
Kane’s 162nd Premier League goal took him level with Jermain Defoe in eighth place in the competition’s all-time leading scorers chart.