His Heung-min hits late against Newcastle to give Spurs second place | Soccer

The Premier League table screams with possibility for Tottenham. It had been so long that it looked like one of those days when the balloon would not take them away. Erik Lamela had hit the post; Almost implausibly, Christian Eriksen had witnessed two unsuccessful attempts and other opportunities to beg.

However, they refused to accept that the lost points were part of the scenario and, thanks to the spectacular winner of Son Heung-min, they climbed above Manchester City to occupy the second place and are now only four points of the leaders, Liverpool – even though played a game more.

Mauricio Pochettino insisted that his team was not equipped to win the title. With trips to Anfield and the upcoming Etihad, they remain a tempting outside bet.

Son's goal was a personal disaster for Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka. The South Korean striker had placed the ball on his right foot at the edge of the box, throwing two Newcastle defenders at the same time, and the shot was well fired. But that was pretty much right in Dubravka and did not threaten.

Dubravka, however, let the ball squirm under his gloves and, in a heartbeat, Newcastle's strong resistance was punctured. With the owner, Mike Ashley, present, they had created decent openings and hit the post through Salón Rondón. The late grant was a bitter pill.

Rafael Benítez mbaded the players behind the ball in his 5-4-1 system, requiring each of them a flawless pace of work, and the scheme was established from the start. Spurs pushed; Newcastle resisted by striking in the counterattack.

The local team had to fight for its openings and there was a couple in the first quarter only for a combination of bad finishes and bad luck to deny them. The first came from Lucas Moura and it was certainly a horrible miss for 17 minutes.

Lamela picked up a cross after Eriksen's free kick was half-released and Fabian Schär played everyone in the back, Lucas was allowed to play in the box. He is mistaken, confusing the jump with a different direction. Cue a cup to Fernando Llorente, who was among the substitutes. Would he have done better?

It is Lamela who has had the bad fortune. Jan Vertonghen, who was playing on the left-back, swept through a dangerous cross and when the ball bounced back after Lucas could reach half-volley, Lamela reacted to direct the lead to the goal. He came back from the crossbar.

The support from Newcastle had traveled well and they had a good time. Matt Ritchie was a threat from the left back with his curved centers while Ayoze Pérez was showing his glittering fingers, especially when he was away from Toby Alderweireld in the 43rd minute. He could not find any final product.

Newcastle's great chance in the first half came within half an hour after Perez shook his head and found Ritchie, whose cross triggered panic. Perez arrived in the area and he asked for a first free kick, but he could not oblige. Rondón's monitoring efforts have been blocked.

Pochettino started with Lucas's center-forward, but he tried his in the first half of the first period, before presenting Llorente to Lucas. There were other adjustments; Lamela, for example, played in the center midfield and right. Pochettino tried everything.

The Spurs had to move the ball faster, despite all the efforts of Harry Winks. They were rejected at the end of the first half, after a corner Eriksen. Moussa Sissoko swapped a right side volley to allow Dubravka to save smartly.

Newcastle hit his game plan, with Rondón working effectively at the end of the training. He was only 51 minutes from the lead to give DeAndre Yedlin the advantage, having pbaded the ball to the depth of the ball and sprinting into the box for the center of the center-back. Between Alderweireld and Kieran Trippier, Rondón's header hits the post.

The margins were painfully thin and a moment of brilliance or calm was decisive. Eriksen thought he had provided it when he gave a head to Son's diving head in a corner. Dubravka was beaten, but Schär, who stretched backwards, hung the ball and pushed him off the ball.

Pérez pushed Hugo Lloris from the edge of the area after a good job from Rondón, while Llorente, the sun in the eye, took a looping header from the Eriksen cross. Spurs thought the Fates were against them when Eriksen led another shot on goal, while Llorente was at the head of a corner. This time it was Ritchie who cleared the ball. His, with the help of Dubravka, would force the problem.