Spirited Southampton Late Show Stuns Tottenham

9th March 2019 - by Southampton FC

Valery equaliser and another sensational Ward-Prowse free kick leads the Saints to turn a 0-1 deficit into a 2-1 victory at Saint Mary's

: Danny Rose of Tottenham Hotspur tackles Yan Valery of Southampton during the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Tottenham Hotspur at St Mary's Stadium on March 09, 2019 in Southampton, United Kingdom. PHOTO/GETTY IMAGES

SUMMARY

It was one that kept Saints out of the bottom three, coming at a crucial time, with Cardiff City also winning at home, as they beat West Ham
It was a remarkable day, but there had been no hint at all in the early stages that it would end in such a way, with Spurs flying out of the traps
After Ryan Bertrand and Nathan Redmond got into trouble deep in their own half on the left, Kane pounced on the loose ball and sent a low first-time delivery across the face of goal

SOUTHAMPTON, United Kingdom- Southampton secured a precious three points in their fight for Premier League survival, as they stunned Tottenham Hotspur with a remarkable late turnaround to win 2-1 at St Mary’s on Saturday.

Saints had gone into the final 15 minutes of the game behind, after Harry Kane had put Spurs in front during a dominant first half from the visitors, but Yan Valery’s equaliser was followed by another incredible James Ward-Prowse free-kick, as the same duo who netted at Manchester United a week earlier this time saw their goals earn their team a huge result.

It was one that kept Saints out of the bottom three, coming at a crucial time, with Cardiff City also winning at home, as they beat West Ham.

As if it was in any doubt, the scenes at the final whistle at St Mary’s told the story of just how important a victory it was, as Ralph Hasenhüttl and his bench erupted in celebration, while the supporters were bouncing and in full voice all around the ground, with a deafening chorus of "Oh When the Saints" accompanying the players off the pitch.

It was a remarkable day, but there had been no hint at all in the early stages that it would end in such a way, with Spurs flying out of the traps.

Hasenhüttl named the same team for the third match in a row, sticking faith with the side that beat Fulham and then performed so admirably at Manchester United.

They were under pressure from the off, though. Unsurprisingly, it was Harry Kane who was the visitors’ biggest early threat, twice taking aim at the Saints goal inside the opening four minutes.

First was a dipping shot from 20 yards after he spun onto a Dele Alli flick-on, only to pull his effort wide, while he then blazed over from distance shortly after when a through pass hit him on the back, then shoulder, and fell fortuitously into his path.

Surging run

Spurs’ pressure resulted in a yellow card for Oriol Romeu in only the tenth minute, as he brought down Lucas Moura during a surging run over halfway from the Tottenham man.

As the game ticked past 15 minutes, still it was Kane who looked the greatest threat on the pitch, winning the ball off Jannik Vestergaard near the corner flag with a sliding tackle, then quickly shifting the ball onto his left foot and nearly bending a shot inside the far post from the side of the area.

By the midway point of the half, Saints were still hanging on, but only by the skin of their teeth.

After Ryan Bertrand and Nathan Redmond got into trouble deep in their own half on the left, Kane pounced on the loose ball and sent a low first-time delivery across the face of goal.

Maya Yoshida slid in and tried to turn it wide, but sent it slamming against the base of the post.

The ball then ricocheted straight back at him and hit him again, sending it once more rolling goalwards, before the centre-back was able to react and scramble it away.

Saints couldn’t clear it as well as they would have liked, though, with Valery bringing down Danny Rose 25 yards out just seconds later, earning him a yellow card.

From the resulting free-kick, Christian Eriksen came within a whisker of opening the scoring, bending the ball over the wall, but seeing it hit the top of the bar and go over.

The visitors didn’t have to wait much longer for the lead, however, as they finally made the breakthrough on 26 minutes.

There were a few nervy moments before the end, but Saints held on superbly and picked up what could prove to be an enormous result in the context of their season.