Jose Mourinho saw his Tottenham Hotspur capitulate from a three goal half time lead as West Ham United netted a last minute equaliser. Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min continued their recent fine form but Mourinho will be furious at how his team lost composure and squandered the chance to go second in the Premier League to welcome back Gareth Bale.
West Ham United Comeback Cancels Out Dominant Spurs First Half
Harry Kane Double and Assist
All of the talk leading up to this game was about Gareth Bale’s return. The Welshman started on the bench and it was Harry Kane who excelled once more in the first half. It took only 45 seconds for Kane to get the ball in his own half and play a sublime ball to Son. Son did the rest. On seven minutes, Kane cut inside and fired home in typical fashion. Within twenty minutes, Tottenham were 3-0 up as Sergio Reguilon delivered a pin point cross for Kane to head home. Harry Kane was winning tackles, dropping deep and in the first 45 minutes was almost unplayable. At half time it looked like Spurs were odds on for three points.
Tottenham Take Foot Off the Gas
Against Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur were ruthless. They had a player extra for much of the game but they kept attacking. In the Second half against West Ham United, Spurs took their foot off the gas and paid the price.
Set pieces had looked to be West Ham’s best opportunity to score. Moussa Sissoko committed a pointless foul and Aaron Cresswell delivered into the box. Fabian Balbuena, who had been given a torrid time by Harry Kane all game, headed home for retribution. It was Sissoko who was guilty of not jumping for the ball and it was far too easy. What seemed to be a consolation goal turned out to be an ignition for a fightback as West Ham saw Tottenham capitulate.
As Gareth Bale entered proceedings, Davinson Sanchez managed to head past his own keeper when all he had to do was to head the ball out for a corner. Gareth Bale was on the pitch but West Ham were in the ascendancy.
Gareth Bale Returns
71 minutes and 47 seconds. That was the time on 18th October 2020 that Gareth Bale made his second Tottenham debut. Bale had a chance to give Spurs all three points. As Tottenham had started to fall apart and were pegged back to 3-2, Bale, in the 91st minute went on a solo run from the right. He showed he still has top quality as he weaved his way through. His shot was tame and went wide and West Ham took the chance to grab the unlikeliest of results to shock Jose Mourinho’s side.
Manuel Lanzini Wonder Strike Punishes Tottenham
Another set piece led to an astonishing climax to another astonishing Premier League match. Harry Kane cleared before Harry Winks tried too much. Instead of hitting the loose ball clear, Winks tried to touch the ball away and Manuel Lanzini hit an incredible strike. Hugo Lloris had no chance and even though he got a hand to the ball, it went in off the bar to seal a remarkable comeback.
Frustrating Day for Tottenham Despite Gareth Bale Return
Tottenham Hotspur would have gone second had they won. Questions will be asked about their ability to see out these types of games once more. The second half performance will have infuriated Jose Mourinho and his teams’ defending is a cause for concern. The returning Gareth Bale, too, would have been disappointed to see his Tottenham comeback end with West Ham celebrations.
For David Moyes, the second half performance will have been the perfect tonic after his isolation with Covid-19. West Ham upped their game in the second half, but for Tottenham this was a wasted chance and it all ended feeling rather ‘Spursy’ once more.
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