Bournemouth vs Tottenham Hotspur. Premier League.
Vitality StadiumAttendance10,623.
Monday 12 March 2018 06:23, UK
Heung-Min Son scored twice as Tottenham came from behind to beat Bournemouth 4-1 in the Premier League, but Harry Kane suffered an ankle injury.
Bournemouth took the lead through Junior Stanislas (7), before goals from Dele Alli (35), Son (65 and 87) and Serge Aurier (90) ensured Spurs strengthened their position in the top four.
It was an impressive response to their agonising midweek Champions League exit to Juventus but there is cause for concern over Kane, who was forced off in the first half after he awkwardly planted his right boot into the turf.
Tottenham move into third place, one point above Liverpool and five ahead of fifth-placed Chelsea. Bournemouth, meanwhile, remain in 12th and six points above the relegation zone.
Bournemouth were gifted a golden opportunity to go in front in the opening exchanges. In the third minute, Callum Wilson sprinted behind Davinson Sanchez and squared the ball across to Stanislas, whose effort crashed off the crossbar.
But the 28-year-old made amends moments later by putting his side ahead following a ruthless counter-attack. Adam Smith's low cross from the right flank was missed by Wilson before Stanislas, on the half-volley, hit home to hand Bournemouth a deserved lead.
Kane had the ball in the net on the half-hour mark but it was ruled out for offside shortly before he was forced off the pitch with an ankle injury. However, Tottenham seemed unfazed as Alli grabbed an equaliser in the 35th minute as he tapped in Aurier's low cross to end a run of 15 games without a goal.
The hosts responded brightly at the start of the second half as Simon Francis, on his 600th Bournemouth appearance, unleashed a fierce drive towards goal which Hugo Lloris did well to parry away. At the other end, in the 57th minute, Christian Eriksen was denied by Asmir Begovic as he pushed away his powerful drive that seemed destined for the bottom corner.
Spurs continued to push for the lead and found it through Son five minutes later. Alli turned from goal-scorer to provider as he dinked the ball into the South Korea international's path, allowing him to acrobatically turn his first-time shot in. In the 83rd minute, Wilson had a goal ruled out as referee Mike Dean felt he fouled Sanchez when he controlled the ball to tap home.
And Spurs completed a convincing turnaround when Son struck again in the 87th minute. The 25-year-old rounded Begovic for a simple finish before Aurier completed the comfortable win with a far-post header.
Tottenham are now unbeaten in their last 12 Premier League games (W9 D3) - only once before have they been on a longer run without a defeat in the competition (14 games ending in December 2015).
Bournemouth have now failed to beat Spurs in six Premier League meetings (D1 L5). Only against Manchester City City (0 points) have they picked up fewer points in the competition since they joined.
Indeed, the Cherries side have conceded 17 goals in six Premier League games against Spurs - only Man City have netted more against them since they joined the competition (21).
Eddie Howe's side have now lost 19 points from leading positions this season; only West Brom (21) have dropped more after taking the lead in the Premier League. Dele Alli has scored 10+ goals in all competitions in each of his three seasons with Spurs (42 goals total).
After Kane went off injured, Son took on the goalscoring responsibility and did so with flying colours. When the game was firmly in the balance, Son scored the game's pivotal goal before putting the visitors further ahead three minutes from time.
Son's continues his fine form as he now has six goals in his last four matches.
Bournemouth host West Brom on March 17 in a 3pm kick-off. Tottenham, meanwhile, travel to Swansea for their FA Cup quarter-final tie on the same day (12.15pm).
