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Alli’s late leveller avoids further Spurs misery

Draw
London, Oct. 19, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) Tottenham Hotspur snatched a 1-1 draw at home to English Premier League basement club Watford on Saturday, thanks to a fiercely contested late strike from Dele Alli.

The goal was however awarded after a VAR review.

Alli pounced on a lapse from Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster and used his shoulder to control the ball before firing into the empty net in the 86th minute, cancelling out Abdoulaye Doucoure’s sixth-minute opener for the visitors.

Watford, who had had a penalty kick claim turned down in the first half when Gerard Deulofeu was felled by Jan Vertonghen, claimed Alli had used his arm.

They also complained that Harry Kane had fouled Christian Kabasele before the ball fell to Alli.

Confusion then reigned as the screen at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium initially said “No Goal” but it eventually stood, leaving Quique Sanchez Flores’ side still without a win after nine Premier League games.

“Of course it’s a relief,” Alli told reporters after averting another defeat for last season’s UEFA Champions League runners-up, who have only won three of 12 games in all competitions this term.

“I was sure it didn’t hit my hand, but then you start thinking, did it? I tried to make sure it didn’t touch it so I could get the strike away.”

Watford scorer Doucoure said his side should feel pleased with their display.

“We are very disappointed at the end of the game. If you don’t score the second one you are always under pressure to not concede,” he said.

“The performance was very good, we have to take a lot of positives. We had a lot of chances against a top-six team.

Spurs’ only chance in a drab first-half display was a tame shot from Alli which was easily saved by Foster.

Embattled Spurs coach Mauricio Pochettino turned to Son Heung-min at the start of the second half.

The South Korean nearly equalised when he smashed a high shot at goal which Foster turned on to the crossbar.

Spurs looked headed for a third straight defeat following a 7-2 humiliation by Bayern Munich and a 3-0 loss at Brighton and Hove Albion until Foster failed to grab a loose ball and Alli took full advantage.

Tottenham are seventh in the Premier League standings on 12 points after nine games. Watford remained bottom on four points.(Reuters/NAN)
VO/JPE/OLAL
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(Edited by Joseph Edeh and Olawale Alabi

Sport

Tottenham’s Alli should face Manchester City, doubt for Huddersfield

Alli

London, April 12, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Dele Alli is a big doubt for their Premier League game at home to relegated Huddersfield Town on Saturday.

The England player who broke his hand is however expected to be available to face Manchester City in the Champions League next week.

Manager Mauricio Pochettino told reporters on Friday that Alli saw a specialist on Thursday after damaging his hand when he fell heavily in their 1-0 win over City in the first leg of their quarter-final clash on Tuesday.

“We need to assess him this afternoon and I’m not too optimistic about him playing tomorrow.

“He broke his hand in two parts and it’s so painful. I’m more optimistic about him being available for Manchester City in the second leg,” he said.

Pochettino added that he would rotate his squad against Huddersfield due to injury and fatigue but stressed the importance of picking up three points.

They are two points behind third-placed Chelsea, who have played a game more, and a point above fellow London rivals Arsenal.

Manchester United are a further two points back in sixth and only six games left in the season.

“Tomorrow is not a game to rest players but we have a lot of players who played 90 minutes (against City) who maybe aren’t in condition to play for different reasons.

“We have to make sure the players on the pitch have full energy. We need to provide fresh legs and make sure we get the three points.

“It’s not about resting player for Manchester City,” he added ahead of the return leg on Wednesday.

As well as the injury to Alli, Tottenham have lost their England talisman Harry Kane, who suffered what the club described as significant ligament damage to his left ankle against City.

“He was so upset after the match. It was a difficult moment for him. We feel so disappointed and it was difficult to accept the situation.

“He had a scan yesterday. He will see the specialist this week and we will see,” Pochettino said.

Asked if Kane, who has a history of ankle problems, would play again this term, he replied: “There’s only four weeks until the end of the season.

“We’ll see. It was an accident. It’s a lot of coincidence. Nothing to do with what he’s (had) in the past.”

Spurs will also be without their longer-term injured players defender Serge Aurier and forward Erik Lamela (both hamstring) plus England midfielder Eric Dier (hip) against Huddersfield. (Reuters/NAN)

KIA/MZA

Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

 

Sport

Lloris, Alli out of Spurs’ Champions League opener

Lloris, Alli out of Spurs’ Champions League opener

Champions League

London, Sept. 17, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) Tottenham Hotspur captain Hugo Lloris and midfielder Dele Alli have been ruled out of the Champions League opener against Inter Milan due to injury, the Premier League club said on Monday.

Goalkeeper Lloris is carrying a thigh injury that kept him out of Tottenham’s 2-1 league defeat by Liverpool on Saturday and Alli was sidelined with a hamstring problem.

Tottenham missed both players in the Liverpool defeat, with errors from stand-in keeper Michel Vorm contributing to both of Liverpool goals.

Alli’s team mate Harry Kane said Spurs had failed to control the game and gave the ball away too many times en route to a second successive domestic defeat.

Midfielder Moussa Sissoko will also miss the Inter match at the San Siro on Tuesday due to a hamstring injury.

Spurs have been drawn in a tough-looking Champions League Group B, which also includes Barcelona and PSV Eindhoven. (Reuters/NAN)

KIA/SA

Edited by Salif Atojoko

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