05/11/26 05:09:00
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05/11 17:07 CDT Spurs draw with Leeds for priceless point in Premier League
survival fight
Spurs draw with Leeds for priceless point in Premier League survival fight
LONDON (AP) --- Tottenham Hotspur took a small and potentially crucial step
towards retaining its Premier League status after drawing at home with Leeds
United 1-1 on Monday.
Spurs, just above the drop zone, moved two points clear of relegation rival
West Ham.
Tottenham went ahead in the 50th minute with a lovely strike by Mathys Tels.
However, Tels' foul on Ethan Ampadu with 15 minutes left led to a Leeds penalty
that Dominic Calvert-Lewin converted with aplomb.
Spurs takes on Chelsea away and Everton at home in their last two games, while
West Ham is away at Newcastle before facing Leeds at home on the final day of
the season.
One of the two will join the already relegated Burnley and Wolves in next
season's Championship.
Spurs came into the game on a high after two consecutive victories but though
they dominated the first half in terms of possession and shots on goal they
didn't break the deadlock until five minutes into the second half.
Pedro Porro's corner kick was cleared to an unmarked Tels, who coolly struck
into the far corner of the net from 20 meters out. It was the center forward's
first goal since Jan. 7.
Tels, however, turned villain 24 minutes later when his high foot was adjudged
to have made contact with Ethan Ampadu's head inside the box.
The referee pointed to the spot and Calvert-Lewin, who was denied a first-half
penalty after a video review, confidently dispatched the spot kick.
Both sides suffered through an edgy last few moments and a remarkable 15
minutes of added time but there were no more goals and Spurs, for whom
goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky was outstanding. They will content themselves that
their destiny remains in their hands.
"We played a good game but there was big pressure," Tottenham coach Roberto De
Zerbi said. "We didn't play calmly. We wanted to win immediately without
passes. When you are fighting for relegation you can't play every game calmly.
"Leeds played a good game and we hope they play like that against West Ham in
the next game."
Spurs have taken eight out of a possible 12 points since De Zerbi's debut
defeat at Sunderland on April 12.
"We deserve to stay up," he said. "We will fight until the end. . . . Even if
we had won today it wouldn't have been finished yet."
Hull secures playoff spot
Hull will play Southampton or Middlesbrough in the Championship playoff final
after second half goals from Mo Belloumi and Joe Gelhardt gave it a 2-0 win
over Millwall in London.
Belloumi's 64th-minute strike with his left foot broke the deadlock in the
second game of the two-leg affair and Gelhardt made sure with a low shot that
squirmed past the Millwall goalkeeper.
The win means Hull have one match to secure a place in the Premier League for
the first time since it was relegated in 2017.
Southampton and Middlesbrough drew the first leg 0-0 on Saturday and will play
their return tie on Tuesday.
The playoff final is set for Wembley on May 23.
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
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