Premier League
Tottenham Hotspur 1 (Tel 51’)
Leeds United 1 (Calvert-Lewin pen 74’)
Spurs: Kinsky (GK), Danso, Palhinha, Richarlison, Tel (Maddison 85’), Udogie (Spence 85’), Gallagher, Porro, Bentancur (Bergvall 81’), van de Ven (C), Kolo Muani. Subs not used: Austin (GK), Drăgușin, Bissouma, Gray, Matar Sarr, Souza.
Leeds: Darlow (GK), Ampadu (C), Struijk (Bornauw 56’), Rodon, James (Gnonto 63’), Calvert-Lewin, Aaronson (Nmecha 63’), Bijol, Stach, Tanaka (Longstaff 90’), Justin. Subs not used: Perri (GK), Piroe, Byram, Chadwick, Lienou.
Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Referee: Jarred Gillett
Attendance: TBC
Booked: Danso, Palhinha, Porro (Spurs) Rodon (Leeds)
Leeds United’s superb unbeaten run in the Premier League continued with a hard-earned point away at Tottenham Hotspur.
Behind after the break in the capital, a composed Dominic Calvert-Lewin penalty ensured the spoils were shared, taking the England international’s tally to 14 for the campaign in all competitions.
With top-flight safety secured after results elsewhere over the weekend, the Whites went into the clash in North London with two changes to the team that faced Burnley last time out, giving starts to attackers Brenden Aaronson and Daniel James.
On the front foot inside the opening few minutes, a cross from the Welsh international was met by Pascal Struijk who, under pressure from several Spurs shirts, glanced wide of the upright.
From the hosts’ first venture forward, Richarlison raced through on goal after beating the offside trap though the retreating Joe Rodon did exceptionally well to recover and make a crucial last-ditch intervention.
Down the other end, the defender went close to opening the scoring against his former club, latching onto Aaronson’s deep cross and forcing a fine diving save from Antonin Kinsky who clawed the ball off the line.
Karl Darlow’s fist real involvement came on the half-hour mark as the goalkeeper sprung to his right to gather Richarlison’s testing effort from inside the area. From a corner moments later, Struijk stood his ground to block a fizzing Pedro Porro drive from 20 yards.
The home team then had an opportunity after a scramble in the middle ensued from a whipped in Mathys Tel delivery which resulted in Joao Palhinha lashing over the upright, before Rodrigo Bentancur steered a header wide of the far post in the final action of the opening period.
HALF TIME: Tottenham Hotspur 0-0 Leeds United
Unchanged at the interval, the Whites emerged for the second period though fell behind when Tel curled a powerful strike from the edge of the area into the top corner.
A first enforced alteration in personnel came as Sebastiaan Bornauw entered the action, replacing the injured Struijk in a switch to the backline.
Looking to respond, a deep Ao Tanaka cross almost found Jaka Bijol towards the back post though the ball skidded off the surface and ran through to a grateful Kinsky.
Approaching the hour mark, Richarlison spurned a great opportunity to extend the hosts’ advantage, lashing over after good initial work by Randal Kolo Muani down the right.
Clever link up play between Calvert-Lewin and James then resulted in the England international laying the ball off for his teammate who was unable to hit the target from range.
That was the final involvement for the Welsh attacker who made way alongside Aaronson for Willy Gnonto and Lukas Nmecha respectively.
After a lengthy VAR check, United were awarded a penalty after skipper Ethan Ampadu was volleyed out of the air contesting a looping ball with Tel.
Calvert-Lewin stepped up and did the rest, hammering a fierce spot kick beyond the despairing dive of Kinsky and into the back of the net!
Leeds almost completed the turnaround almost immediately after the restart as Nmecha latched onto Calvert-Lewin’s flick but saw a first-time attempt blocked allowing the Tottenham stopper to gather.
A final change in stoppage time saw Sean Longstaff replace Tanaka and the midfielder nearly won it with an effort that came crashing off the underside of the bar but it wasn’t to be, with the point in the capital extending United’s impressive unbeaten run to seven matches.
FULL TIME: Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Leeds United
