London: England captain Harry Kane scored the 200th goal of his career but his milestone was eclipsed as Tottenham Hotspur squandered a lead in a game they were dominating before suffering a 2-1 Premier League defeat at Southampton Saturday.
On a day when Jamie Vardy scored his 100th goal for Leicester City in their 3-1 home win over Fulham, Kane enjoyed his own landmark moment at St Mary’s — his 200th in all matches for clubs and country — to put Spurs ahead.
Yet it was to prove an unhappy return to his old St Mary’s stamping ground for Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino who, serving the first of a two-match touchline ban, saw his side capitulate to two late goals in five minutes from Yan Valery and James Ward-Prowse.
Ward-Prowse’s stunning free kick winner left Spurs third on 61 points, still 10 behind leaders Manchester City, who were hosting Watford later Saturday, and nine behind Liverpool, who entertain Burnley, Sunday.
The win also dented Spurs’ hopes in an ever-tighter top-four battle for Champions League places as they remain just three points ahead of their nearest pursuers Manchester United, who play at fifth-placed Arsenal on Sunday.
Southampton’s late turnaround, though, earned them crucial points in the fight to avoid relegation, just as Cardiff City were able to celebrate an equally important 2-0 win over West Ham United thanks to goals from Junior Hoilett and Victor Camarasa.
Agencies