LONDON: Harry Kane rose to second place all-time premier league goalscoring list as he helped struggling Tottenham Hotspur to a 1-0 win over crystal palace on Saturday, earning its first win in five games.
Kane directed Tottenham ahead in first-half added time to score his 209th Premier League goal, one more than Wayne Rooney but still a long way behind record holder Alan Shearer’s tally of 260.
Tottenham’s win lifted them to sixth in the table with 57 points from 35 games. They are six points behind fourth-placed Manchester United, who occupy the last of the Champions League qualifying spots after playing two more games. Palace are 12th with 40 points.
Tottenham had conceded 15 goals in their previous four games but there was no danger in a flat opening period on both sides that lacked clear chances until it came to life in injury time.
Club captain Kane started the move that led to the winning goal by sending the ball wide past Pedro Porro into acres of space on the right wing and the Spaniard then sent a cross to the back post leaving the attacker direct the ball. .
“It was tough but really important to get the three points and a clean sheet,” Kane told reporters. “Palace are in a good vein of form, so we knew it would be tough.
“Scoring right at half time helped and we defended well in the second (half). So overall a good three points.”
Tottenham hit the crossbar before their goal from a header from Cristian Romero and dominated the second half in terms of possession, as Son Heung-min wasted a superb chance to make it 2-0 but couldn’t beat Sam Johnstone one-on-one. with the keeper.
Kane scored twice in Tottenham’s 4-0 win at Selhurst Park earlier in the season but had a quiet afternoon except for his goal, with his other major contribution a scrambled clearance into his own box late on.
Johnstone made a smart save to repel Porro’s deflected effort but too often the home side wasted in the palace half as the finishing pass, cross or shot was wayward and promising positions led nowhere .
Palace huffed and puffed but succumbed to a second defeat in seven games after manager Roy Hodgson returned to the club, although they are now likely to be well clear of relegation problems, having already reached 40 points.
Kane directed Tottenham ahead in first-half added time to score his 209th Premier League goal, one more than Wayne Rooney but still a long way behind record holder Alan Shearer’s tally of 260.
Tottenham’s win lifted them to sixth in the table with 57 points from 35 games. They are six points behind fourth-placed Manchester United, who occupy the last of the Champions League qualifying spots after playing two more games. Palace are 12th with 40 points.
Tottenham had conceded 15 goals in their previous four games but there was no danger in a flat opening period on both sides that lacked clear chances until it came to life in injury time.
Club captain Kane started the move that led to the winning goal by sending the ball wide past Pedro Porro into acres of space on the right wing and the Spaniard then sent a cross to the back post leaving the attacker direct the ball. .
“It was tough but really important to get the three points and a clean sheet,” Kane told reporters. “Palace are in a good vein of form, so we knew it would be tough.
“Scoring right at half time helped and we defended well in the second (half). So overall a good three points.”
Tottenham hit the crossbar before their goal from a header from Cristian Romero and dominated the second half in terms of possession, as Son Heung-min wasted a superb chance to make it 2-0 but couldn’t beat Sam Johnstone one-on-one. with the keeper.
Kane scored twice in Tottenham’s 4-0 win at Selhurst Park earlier in the season but had a quiet afternoon except for his goal, with his other major contribution a scrambled clearance into his own box late on.
Johnstone made a smart save to repel Porro’s deflected effort but too often the home side wasted in the palace half as the finishing pass, cross or shot was wayward and promising positions led nowhere .
Palace huffed and puffed but succumbed to a second defeat in seven games after manager Roy Hodgson returned to the club, although they are now likely to be well clear of relegation problems, having already reached 40 points.
