Match report and highlights as Spurs thrash Norwich to secure fourth place to qualify for Champions League; Heung-Min Son scores twice to share Golden Boot with Liverpool's Mohamed Salah on 23 goals; Dejan Kulusevski also scores two goals with Harry Kane on scoresheet at Carrow Road
Sunday 22 May 2022 21:11, UK
Tottenham have qualified for next season’s Champions League after a 5-0 win at already-relegated Norwich secured fourth place ahead of Arsenal.
Tottenham started the final day fourth in the table knowing they only needed a draw to qualify for European football's elite club competition.
But Antonio Conte's side eased to a comfortable win at Carrow Road as Heung-Min Son scored twice in the second half to share the Golden Boot with Liverpool's Mohamed Salah as they both finished on 23 goals.
Dejan Kulusevski also scored twice either side of Harry Kane's header to ensure Tottenham will return to the Champions League for the first time since the 2019/20 campaign.
The win over the Premier League's bottom side means Tottenham finished two points above north London rivals Arsenal.
Any final-day nerves for Spurs were eased in the 16th minute as Kulusevski gave the visitors the lead.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg's clipped ball played in Rodrigo Bentancur, who beat the offside trap to race in on goal and square for Kulusevski to tap in from close range.
The home side came close to equalising but Milot Rashica's low shot went wide of Hugo Lloris' post, with the Kosovan's effort Norwich's best chance of the match.
Kane then made it 2-0 to Spurs in the 32nd minute thanks to a mistake from Norwich goalkeeper Tim Krul.
Trying to play out from the back, the Dutchman hit his pass straight to Bentancur, who crossed for an unmarked Kane to nod home into an empty net.
In the 64th minute, Spurs made the game safe as Kulusevski scored his second with a stunning strike.
Set free by Kane, he outmuscled Dimitris Giannoulis and then curled a sensational left-footed shot into the far corner.
Son then drew level with Mohamad Salah in the Golden Boot race on 22 goals in the 70th minute, as he struck a low finish past Krul from a clever first-time ball from substitute Lucas Moura.
The South Korean went one clear of Salah five minutes later with a sublime finish from outside the box but the Liverpool forward scored at Anfield against Wolves shortly after to ensure the award was shared.
But Salah's late goal was the only blemish on a fine afternoon for Spurs who ran riot at Norwich to return to the Champions League after two seasons away, with the future looking bright under Antonio Conte.
Tottenham head coach Antonio Conte speaking to Sky Sports:
"I have to be honest, I think it [finishing fourth] is one of the most important achievements in my career.
"Sometimes it's not only when you lift a trophy to be satisfied. I think we reached the maximum level that we dreamed of in November because then the situation was not so good for many reasons. The club changed the coach and with injuries we tried to find the good solution.
"I think we've done a really good job and for me this is a big achievement in a league that is very difficult because here you find the best players and best coaches.
"I'm happy even though I didn't lift any trophy this season."
On Son sharing the Golden Boot, Conte said: "It's a magnificent achievement for him. I think Sonny felt a bit of pressure to reach this achievement but we are very happy for him.
"Today we had two targets: the first was to get into the Champions League and then to try to help Sonny to become top scorer and so we're very happy."
Heung-Min Son speaking to Sky Sports on sharing the Golden Boot:
"I'm really happy. It feels amazing. When I saw it [the award] for the first time I felt a little bit emotional because when I was a kid I dreamed of it. When I got it in my hands I still don't believe it.
"It's an unbelievable achievement but I'm really grateful for my team-mates, the fans and the coaching staff for helping me.
"There was always space to improve and everyone believed that but as soon as the new manager came everything has been changed. It was incredible. There is no secret, I think it's always hard work and to believe in ourselves.
"I can't wait to get started next season."
Norwich head coach Dean Smith speaking to Sky Sports:
"The game summed up our season. There were too many individual errors that costs us goals.
"We had good moments in the game but we don't take our chances. They were the better team on the day and they've got better players that scored good goals."
Son might have scored twice to share the Golden Boot, but Spurs' star at Carrow Road was Kulusevski.
The 22-year-old had an outstanding match as he opened the scoring to settle the nerves and then made the game safe in the second half with a stunning strike.
Kulusevski has been a star since signing in January and once again he was pivotal in the team's forward play as he constantly stretched the Norwich defence and was at the heart of every Spurs attack.
