Leeds United 1-4 Tottenham Hotspur: Harry Kane double consigns Sam Allardyce’s Whites to relegation
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Updated 28/05/2023 at 19:07 GMT
Leeds United’s stay in the Premier League is over following a home loss to Tottenham Hotspur. Sam Allardyce’s Whites went into the final game of the season with their destiny not in their own hands, and needed a win over Tottenham Hotspur to stand any chance of staying up. Harry Kane made that look extremely unlikely with an early goal, and Leeds had no response.
Sam Allardyce reacts during the Premier League match between Leeds United and Tottenham Hotspur at Elland Road in Leeds, northern England on May 28, 2023
Image credit: Getty Images
A Harry Kane brace and goals from Pedro Porro and Lucas Moura condemned Leeds to the Championship as Tottenham ran out 4-1 winners at Elland Road on a dramatic final day of the Premier League season.
Sam Allardyce’s side came into the match needing to win and relying on results elsewhere to avoid the dreaded drop after a dismal season, and could hardly have made a worse start.
Porro darted inside from the right wing to pick up the loose ball and feed Son Heung-Min, who laid it off for Kane to break the deadlock with his first touch of the game and with just 91 seconds on the clock.
Credit to the hosts, who responded well and should have been level before the 10-minute mark. First, Robin Koch had a free header from eight yards out that he put wide; moments later, Pascal Struijk sliced a gilt-edged chance over the bar.
The anguish was written all over the face of Allardyce in the dugout and the Leeds faithful, who created an incredible atmosphere prior to kick-off.
Those cheers made way for boos at half-time as the team’s impending relegation neared, especially with Leicester winning at the break.
The ill will throughout the stadium only intensified when the action resumed. Amazingly, the hosts were once again caught napping less than two minutes into the half as Kane turned provider, spinning Liam Cooper and finding Porro, who picked out the corner exquisitely from a tight angle.
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Liam Cooper reacts during the Premier League match between Leeds United and Tottenham
Image credit: Getty Images
With Leicester doubling their advantage and Everton opening the scoring at Goodison, Leeds’ fate was as good as sealed, but they did give themselves a lifeline in the 67th minute when Jack Harrison found the net with a low bullet.
However, Kane restored the two-goal cushion two minutes later, slotting the ball into the corner with ease at the end of a Tottenham break for his 30th Premier League goal of the season and a fitting end to his time at Spurs, if it should prove to be his last appearance.
One player who is departing is Lucas Moura, and the Brazilian signed off in style, darting through the Leeds defence in the 94th minute and bringing the curtain down on his five-year stay with a magical goal.
Despite the win, Tottenham missed out on European football for the first time since the 2010/11 campaign, as the club prepare for a huge summer transfer window, while Leeds will have to dust themselves down and prepare for life in the Championship.
TALKING POINT – NO GREAT ESCAPE FOR ALLARDYCE AND LEEDS
Leeds turned to renowned escape artist Sam Allardyce after sacking Javi Garcia with the club above the relegation zone on goal difference. The veteran manager talked up his abilities when he arrived at Elland Road, comparing himself to Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp, but performances on the pitch didn’t match that message.
In four games, Allardyce picked up just one point, shipping 11 goals and scoring just five as Leeds went out with a whimper. It’s a sad day for the club, who returned to the Premier League after a lengthy absence just three years ago. There are no easy games in the Championship, so an immediate return is far from a sure thing.
As for Allardyce, it remains to be seen where he goes from here. Will Leeds want to hold onto the 68-year-old or start afresh after a disappointing campaign? Time will tell.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH – HARRY KANE (TOTTENHAM)
The England striker was magnificent, displaying his full repertoire of skills. With his first touch of the game, he showed why he is renowned as one of the deadliest finishers in football, before turning provider moments into the second half. The 29-year-old received the ball and flicked it round Liam Cooper, who was left rooted to the spot, before setting up Pedro Porro for Tottenham's second of the game.
He then made it 3-1 with his 30th Premier League goal of the season, finishing off a Spurs break with ease. If it is his last Spurs appearance it was a remarkable way to bow out, and probably increased his value by a few million to potential suitors.
PLAYER RATINGS
LEEDS: Robles (5), Ayling (5), Forshaw (5), Koch (4), Cooper (4), Harrison (6), Rodrigo (5), Struijk (5), Kristensen (5), McKennie (6), Wober (6). SUBS: Firpo (4), Aaronson (5), Rutter (5), Gnonto (n/a).
TOTTENHAM: Forster (6), Skipp (6), Sanchez (6), Son (7), Kane (9), Royal (6), Kulusevski (7), Porro (8), Davies (6), Lenglet (6), Bissouma (7). SUBS: Richarlison (4), Moura (n/a), Sarr (, Craig (n/a), Abbott (n/a).
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
2’ – GOOOAAAALLL! KANE PUTS SPURS AHEAD: Wow! Leeds suffer a devastating blow within two minutes. Porro has the ball on the right and finds Son in the box, and he lays it off for Kane to dispatch with his first touch of the game.
7’ – WHAT A CHANCE: It should be 1-1. A superb ball finds Koch in acres of space, less than 10 yards out, but the German steers his header wide.
8’ – ANOTHER CHANCE: How many of these chances can Leeds afford to waste? From a throw-in, the ball falls kindly for Struijk, who slices his shot badly over the bar.
47’ – GOOOAAALL! SPURS LEAD 2-0: It's another early goal at the start of the half. Kane spins Cooper brilliantly before finding Porro, who picks out the corner exquisitely from a tight angle. That could be the final nail in the Leeds coffin. 2-0 Tottenham.
67’ – HARRISON PULLS ONE BACK FOR LEEDS: Leeds are back in it. Harrison works the ball out of his feet and fizzes a low shot past Forster in the far corner. They need another two and some serious help elsewhere to survive.
69’ – GOAL! KANE MAKES IT 3-1: Just as Leeds think they have fresh hope, Kane extinguishes it. Spurs break forward and the ball is fed into Kane on the left, and he picks out the corner with ease to all but confirm Leeds' relegation.
90+5' - GOAAALLL! MOURA SIGNS OFF WITH A STUNNER: Absolutely magic from the Brazilian in the last minute. He picks it up on the right and just inside the Leeds half before darting his way through a sea of bodies and clipping it past Robles to sign off his Spurs career in style. Trademark stuff. 4-1 Tottenham!
KEY STATS
- Leeds conceded a whopping 78 goals this Premier League season
- Kane has now scored 11 goals on the final day of the season in the Premier League, the most of any player
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