Spurs say farewell to HA9 with 9 goal thriller
Tottenham win “London League” after flooring Geordies
Spurs pip Foxes 5-4 amid second half goal glut
by Steve Clare, Wembley Stadium
Tottenham and Leicester City served up a nine goal thriller for 77,841 spectators in their final home match at Wembley Stadium.
The day felt special from the very start as thousands of North Londoners descended on England’s Northwest London home for the last time in a season that has seen Real Madrid and Juventus among the visitors, crowds over 80,000, Arsenal beaten and Champions League football guaranteed.
A full compliment of visiting fans from Leicester added to the occasion and their side signaled an intent to be spoilers from the fourth minute when Riyad Mahrez swung in a free-kick from the left and Jamie Vardy flicked in a neat header for an early opener.
The lead was short lived. Harry Kane ran 15 yards and fired unstoppably past Eldin Jakupovic, after receiving a perfectly weighted and timed ball from Lucas Moura, and timing the pace of his run and finish superbly.
In possibly his last game for the Foxes, Mahrez turned scorer in the 16th minute when a miskick fell to him after some admittedly neat Leicester passing had confused the Spurs defenders and left them chasing blue shadows.
That go-ahead goal signaled the start of Leicester’s best spell of the game and they had several chances to double their lead before the interval. Hugo Lloris’ outstretched hand stopped the dangerous Demarai Gray making it 1-3 before Harry Maguire only managed insufficient power on a header. Spur’s French goalkeeper Lloris had to be alert again to clasp another cross as Leicester’s attacks began to resemble waves.
The half-time whistle though didn’t save Spurs for long as it became 3-1 shortly after half time. Kelechi Iheanacho picked up a weak defensive header, outmuscled Victor Wanyama and fired a left foot blast into Lloris’ net in perhaps the poorest defensive goal on a day which did not cover itself in defending glory.
Tottenham pulled two goals back almost immediately, Erik Lamela tapping in a Kyle Walker-Peters cross before Fuchs put through his own net having diverted an Erik Lamela shot goalwards in minutes 49 and 53 respectively.
Mauricio Pochettino receives the adulation of the crowd after a memorable season
Lamela gave Spurs the lead for the first time on the hour mark with Walker-Peters again the provider, ending a 15 minute period with four goals after the restart. Tottenham led for the first time with a 4-3 advantage.
After that goal glut, the game quietened down. Christian Eriksen drove wide but there were two more twists in the tail. Vardy timed another run wonderfully and equalised at 4-4, with an assist from Mahrez that maybe marks the last time that fearful combination registers a goal for the Foxes.
Three minutes later Harry Kane put Spurs back in front with a wonderful curled effort, Danny Rose being credited with the assist.
Vardy fired over with a great chance for the leveler just before time but in the end, it was Spurs who bid farewell to Wembley with a win, that sees them finish third.
Third place, an FA Cup semi final loss and last 16 of the Champions League may not amount to a successful season given a recent plethora of second places but manager Mauricio Pochettino clearly has the love and support of the fans and will be around next year to better it, providing he gets the funds he needs to improve the squad.
