Football | Southampton frustrates Spurs as Kane scores 99th EPL goal

Southampton’s Dusan Tadic (right) celebrates the first goal with teammates during the EPL soccer match against Tottenham

Harry Kane scored his Premier League-leading 21st goal of the season in a frustrating 1-1 draw for Tottenham at Southampton yesterday [Macau time].

Kane has scored 99 Premier League goals overall.

Southampton went ahead at St. Mary’s Stadium in the 15th minute after Tottenham defender Davinson Sanchez deflected the ball into his own net while trying to clear Ryan Bertrand’s cross.

Tottenham quickly equalized with Kane heading in Ben Davies’ corner in the 18th.

Spurs stayed fifth and fourth-placed Liverpool can now pull five points clear in the Champions League spots with a win at Swansea.

Southampton remained in the relegation zone.

Sergio Aguero scored a hat-trick as runaway leader Manchester City beat Newcastle 3-1 over the weekend. City has a 12-point lead over Manchester United, which is three points in front of third-placed Chelsea.

While Tottenham will regret the dropped points, Southampton delivered a fighting draw for its under-pressure boss Mauricio Pellegrino.

The grumbling at St Mary’s has grown louder in recent weeks and with Marco Silva available after being fired by Watford hours before kickoff here, the atmosphere could quickly have turned sour.

The Saints are without a win in 11 games, the longest drought of any team currently in the division, but a gutsy, aggressive display earned the players warm applause as they left the pitch.

Tottenham missed the creativity of Christian Eriksen, who was ill, while Hugo Lloris’ virus gave Michel Vorm his first league start in goal since April last year.

Southampton was punishing Serge Aurier down Tottenham’s right and it was from there they took a surprise lead as Bertrand’s cross was turned into his own net by the sliding Sanchez.

The hosts’ advantage lasted only three minutes, however, and it could have been fewer had Eric Dier’s shot not crashed against the post. Moments later, Kane ghosted past Jack Stephens to nod home Davies’ corner.

Tottenham was out early for the start of the second half but failed to shake off the loose touches and misplaced passes that continually stalled its attacks. AP