Southampton 3-3 Tottenham: James Ward-Prowse seals a stunning comeback for Southampton
There was once a time when Southampton regularly arrived at this time of year, tossing and stretching, and escaping whatever relegation tangle they had gotten themselves into over the course of the winter.
These feats of escapism featured a varied cast, but often headlined by Matt Le Tissier, whose goals and assists would garner points from the unlikeliest of places to carry the Saints over the dotted line at season’s end.
By the time they came back from 3-1 down to salvage a point against Tottenham, the same vibe was back in the Solent and caretaker boss Ruben Selles’ name was ringing around St Mary’s.
For Le Tissier, read James Ward-Prowse, overlooked by England this week but managing his nerves from the spot to beat former team-mate Fraser Forster in the 90th minute.
But there were others who played a key role at this point. Theo Walcott, do you remember? Spurs fans certainly did. They booed the former Arsenal winger from the start but couldn’t stop him from scoring his first goal in almost two years, the second for Southampton, to give them hope at 3-2.
James Ward-Prowse sealed the comeback with a dramatic stoppage-time penalty as Southampton came from behind to draw 3-3 with Tottenham.
Having missed twice from the point in previous games, the Southampton captain stepped up to secure the point for his side.
The Saints remain bottom of the Premier League table but they showed a lot of fight to stay in the game at the end and take a point.
And Ainsley Maitland-Niles, another former Arsenal player, booed from the visiting winger, who came on as the Saints lost both central defenders to injury and won Ward-Prowse’s converted penalty to pick up a point.
All of which came as a shock to Tottenham and hurt their top four hopes. Antonio Conte must have thought the points were secure when Ivan Perisic scored his first goal for the club, to give them a 3-1 lead after 74 minutes.
Pedro Porro had given them the lead and Harry Kane re-established the lead after Che Adams’ first equalizing goal.
The first half was disrupted by stoppages and four injuries, with both sides forced to make early changes. First, Richarlison stopped injured and came out distraught with his shirt collar pulled up over his face.
It is the third major injury setback of the season for the Brazilian. One threatened to rule him out of the World Cup, but he returned to full fitness only to suffer another while he was in Qatar, playing for Brazil.
His frustration boiled over after Tottenham’s Champions League exit against Milan, when Richarlison bemoaned his “shitty season” and complained about the national team, but he seemed to renew himself with a good performance in the win at the end of last week against Nottingham Forest.
Richarlison (L) was one of four players substituted before the break due to injury with both teams missing two players.
January signing Pedro Porro opened the scoring just before the break with a well-placed shot from inside the area
Harry Kane had scored the visitors’ second goal to make it 2–1 in the 65th minute with his 12th career goal against Southampton.
Southampton have only managed to score three times in a single game twice this season after Saturday’s comeback
Ivan Perisic opened his scoring account for Tottenham with a well-placed volley from the edge of the box to make it 3-1
He kept his place in the team only to hobble off, replaced by Dejan Kulusevski after five minutes.
Armel Bella-Kotchap, from Southampton, followed, almost immediately, gingerly holding his right forearm with his left hand. With less than eight minutes left on the clock, it was the earliest either team had made a substitution in a Premier League game, according to Opta.
Two more followed before the break. Jan Bednarek required a long period of treatment midway through the first half. Bednarek tried to carry on before going off in pain, leaving Ainsley Maitland-Niles to take on an unknown role in central defence. Ben Davies was hurt and gave way to Ivan Perisic.
In and around all of this, the game was even with flurries of activity at both ends. Southampton cut through Spurs to create the first chance of the game for Stuart Armstrong, whose shot was blocked. James Ward-Prowse and Che Adams tried to convert the rebound to no avail.
Theo Walcott, cunning and dangerous at the age of 34, bolted off to be thwarted by Fraser Forster, back at his old club, before the flag was raised to declare him offside.
Eric Dier parried a deflected header from Kulusevski’s cross following a short corner routine, and right-back Porro proved a constant threat in Tottenham’s attack.
Twice, Porro fired over the top when well placed and one of his crosses picked at Son Heung-min, who missed his volley attempt. Son and Porro combined again for the opening goal in the first of the seven minutes added by stoppages at the end of the first half.
This time, the Korean was the provider with a pass to tempt Porro once more forward down the right. Driving into the penalty area, the Spaniard finished off with confidence, past Saints goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu and off the crossbar.
The lead didn’t last long as Southampton were level within a minute of the restart. Romeo Lavia released Walcott and faced Adams, who struck from close range, his first Premier League goal since November.
This energized the crowd and confidence flooded back into the home team. Suddenly, they passed by and moved fluidly. Kyle Walker Peters sent a cross on target and Ward-Prowse deflected a free kick from a position where he can punish more.
Still, Spurs were dangerous on the counterattack. Kane shot over the top as a reminder and then found the net, slipping in behind Maitland-Niles and heading to the far post following Kulusevski’s provocative deep cross.
The penalty was given within the extra five minutes at St. Mary’s to give Southampton a chance to come from behind.
Pep Matar Sarr was penalized for a clumsy foul on Ainsley Maitland-Niles inside the penalty area before VAR verification
Spurs’ wait for an away win continues, having failed to do so in all competitions since late January in the FA Cup.
Che Adams leveled the home side within 60 seconds of the first half from close range after a fluid passing move
Former Arsenal star Theo Walcott scored Southampton’s second goal of the game to make it 3-2 and set up a tense finish.
It was Kane’s ninth headed goal of the season equaling a Premier League record set by Duncan Ferguson in 1996/97.
Perisic stretched the lead with a sweet volley, but Saints responded with Forster making a quick save from Maitland-Niles before Walcott reduced the deficit, converting his first goal in almost two years thanks to a header from substitute Sekoe Mara.
Forster made a double save from Mara but was unable to save the penalty, awarded by Pape Sarr for a foul on Maitland-Niles. Sarr went to clear a bouncing ball, but Maitland-Niles stepped in first. He then happily made the most of it when Sarr kicked him in the back of the leg.
Referee Simon Hooper signaled the point and his VAR Tony Harrington backed his decision and Ward-Prowse fired into the top corner.