BUBBLES BURSTERS
Tottenham 0 West Ham 1: Antonio bags first away goal as Hammers end Spurs’ perfect record at new stadium
The West Ham winger chested down and volleyed in to give the Hammers the lead with a quarter of the game to go
MICHAIL ANTONIO rode roughshod over Tottenham’s Champions League preparations for this and next season with a superb winner - and net the first away goal at the new £1bn stadium.
Antonio’s bizarre celebration, which seemed to combine riding a horse with something more graphic, raised a few eyebrows.
5
5
But there was no questioning the quality of his 66th-minute goal.
The West Ham man took Marko Arnautovic’s pass on his chest, surged past Davinson Sanchez and smashed the ball past Hugo Lloris.
Sub Vincent Janssen almost snatched an equaliser in the last-minute of stoppage-time but a combination of Fabian Balbuena and Fabianski made sure justice was done.
So Antonio's blast proved enough to end Tottenham’s 100 per cent record at their new stadium and send them into Tuesday’s semi-final first leg against Ajax on a downer.
Spurs had hoped to seal a victory that would leave them one more win from a guaranteed place in Europe's elite club competition next year.
But they paid the price for not converting first-half chances and failing to respond to West Ham upping their game after the break.
Tottenham had the better of a pretty entertaining and interesting first half.
Mauricio Pochettino talks about Harry Kane’s return from injury
WASTEFUL SPURS
Lukasz Fabianski made a decent early save from Son Heung-Min and an excellent one from Christian Eriksen in the 36th minute.
The home team didn’t have it all their own way, with the Hammers looking dangerous on the break.
But the best the visitors could do was two shots from Felipe Anderson, one tame and one deflected, which Lloris dealt with comfortably.
The Hammers started the second half well, and it took a good block by Toby Alderweireld to stop Ryan Fredericks' shot at the end of a good break involving Mark Noble and Marko Arnautovic.
Back came Spurs with a threatening spell in which Anthony Taylor rejected claims for a penalty for a challenge on Son by Arthur Masuaku.
It was end-to-end stuff as Lucas Moura got back to close down Anderson following a break which should have brought at least a shot on goal for the Hammers.
Latest Premier League news
Then came Antonio’s moment of magic and Spurs lacked the energy and inspiration to find an equaliser.
Defender Ben Davies burst into the box but Fredericks made a great challenge and Lloris had to stick out a leg to stop Antonio making it two after he had run on to a long ball by Masuaku.
The Frenchman then denied Issa Diop when the West Ham centre back ran through only to see his tame effort tipped wide.
All of Saturday's Premier League highlights including Spurs v West Ham
5
5
Christian Eriksen was denied by Lukasz Fabianski in the first half as Spurs looked for an opener
5
Topics