Harry Kane, who just can’t stop scoring, hit in a last minute equalizer against West Ham to secure a 2-2 draw at White Hart Lane. West Ham had surged to the lead after Cheikhou Kouyate sent a bullet header past Hugo Lloris after Mousa Dembele clumsily gave away possession to the visitors. West Ham doubled their lead when Diafra Sakho half-volleyed in a seemingly impossible shot from a tight angle. Tottenham hit back in the 81st minute when West Ham ‘keeper Adrian punched the ball from Erik Lamela’s cross right into the path of Danny Rose, who struck the ball into the ground and over Adrian’s head to make it 2-1. In the final minute of stoppage-time, Alex Song blatantly gave away a penalty to Tottenham when he tripped Harry Kane from behind. With the chance to save a point for his team, Harry Kane hit a poor penalty which Adrian saved but Kane pounced on the rebound and fired into the back of the net. This proved to be the final kick of the game and the visitors will be disappointed for letting two points slip away from their grasp.
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Amidst much controversy, Liverpool managed to win against Southampton, with the Saints having 3 penalty appeals declined. It was pouring at St. Mary’s and Southampton were denied a penalty in the very first minute when Djuricic was seemingly brought down in the box by Emre Can but to his dismay referee Kevin Friend brushed away all appeals. At the other end, Coutinho scored a screamer from absolutely nothing, when he lashed in a dipping shot from 30-yards which bounced off the crossbar into the net. Right after the goal, Southampton were denied yet another penalty, this time when Djuricic was brought down by Allen from behind but yet again, Kevin Friend waved away all appeals. This seemed to be a fiercer tackle and was definitely a penalty. In the 32nd minute, Liverpool were denied a penalty of their own, when Sterling cut the ball inside the box but Fonte came sliding in, sending Sterling into the sky. And more controversy followed, when Mignolet apparently handled the ball outside the box to save the incoming shot from Eljero Elia. No red card for Mignloet and Liverpool walked scot free. And in the first minute of stoppage-time, James Ward-Prowse’s corner struck the hand of Dejan Lovren and yet again, Kevin Friend didn’t award a penalty. True, Lovren didn’t see it coming but it was somewhat obvious that it struck his hand.
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Both sides made changes into the second-half with Schneiderlin and Moreno coming on for Steven Davis and Lazar Markovic respectively. The early parts of the second-half were dull with both sides creating only half-chances. When Schneiderlin gave the ball away in midfield, Moreno grabbed it passed it to Sterling who laid it off to Moreno again but instead of shooting the Spaniard decided to cross in the ball and it seemed yet another chance was wasted. But young defender Matt Targett made a haste of his clearance and unluckily slipped kindly giving the ball to Sterling who lashed it away. 2-0 to Liverpool and certainly, game over. Southampton will rue the missed chances and wasteful finishing but Kevin Friend’s horrific refereeing has raised plenty of eyebrows. After this win, Liverpool leapfrogged Tottenham to 6th place, just two points away from 4th place.
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Real Madrid secured a victory over strugglers Elche in routine fashion despite a controversial first-half with Benzema having a completely legitimate goal ruled offside. In the second-half Benzema scored from close range after the ball fell kindly to him the box after some scrappy defending. Ronaldo killed the game off when the scored a bullet header into the roof of the net. Despite their unconvincing performance, Real will be overjoyed to have taken the lead at the top of the La Liga to 4 points.
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Ronaldo is also closing in on Raul’s record of 323 goals for Real Madrid, when he scored his 290th goal against Elche. He’s now 3rd in the all-time highest scorers list, right behind Raul and legendary Alfredo Di Stefano.
Tags: Harry Kane Ronaldo
