James Ward-Prowse scored a stunning free-kick to earn the victory
Two late goals in five minutes earned Southampton an incredible victory against Tottenham to remain clear of the Premier League bottom three.
James Ward-Prowse earned the win with a sensational free-kick from 25 yards to keep the Saints two points ahead of Cardiff, who won at home to West Ham.
The midfielder's strike came after calamitous defending allowed Southampton to draw level via Yan Valery, who pounced on Danny Rose's mistake.
Victory seemed unlikely after a poor first half dominated by Spurs who took the lead when Harry Kane scored his 200th career goal.
But the incredible turnaround earned Ralph Hasenhuttl's team a second consecutive home win - the first time Southampton have achieved that since December 2016.
Tottenham, whose manager Mauricio Pochettino was in the stands as part of his two-match touchline ban, remain third after losing a third league game in four.
Manchester United, who were 13 points behind Spurs when Jose Mourinho was sacked as manager on 16 December, can move level on points with Spurs should they beat Arsenal on Sunday.
Ralph Hassenhuttl earned successive home wins for the first time since December 2016Hasenhuttl revels in crucial win
At the final whistle, Hasenhuttl joined his team for a huddle on the pitch as they celebrated their first comeback victory of the season.
No team has dropped more points from winning positions this season, underlined by a 3-2 defeat at Old Trafford last Saturday, where they had led 1-0 and drew level with a Ward-Prowse free-kick.
But this time, the Saints midfielder's strike proved crucial as he scored a sixth goal in nine appearances to lift Southampton up to 16th in the table - above Burnley, who face Liverpool on Sunday.
Credit must also go to midfielder Josh Sims, who, after his half-time introduction, played a pivotal role in turning around the game after Saints' poor first half.
The home win was also a first over Tottenham since 2005, but more important was the lift it will give Hasenhuttl's side at such an important stage of the season.
More to follow
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Southampton
28Gunn
35Bednarek
3Yoshida
4Vestergaard
43ValeryBooked at 22mins
14RomeuBooked at 10minsSubstituted forLongat 45'minutesSubstituted forArmstrongat 73'minutes
23HøjbjergBooked at 78mins
21Bertrand
16Ward-Prowse
22RedmondBooked at 88mins
10AustinSubstituted forSimsat 45'minutes
Substitutes
1McCarthy
5Stephens
7Long
17Armstrong
33Targett
39Sims
55Slattery
Tottenham
1Lloris
16Walker-PetersBooked at 79mins
6D Sánchez
5Vertonghen
3RoseSubstituted forDaviesat 82'minutes
15Dier
17SissokoBooked at 88mins
23Eriksen
20AlliSubstituted forLlorenteat 82'minutes
10Kane
27Lucas MouraSubstituted forSon Heung-Minat 72'minutes
Substitutes
7Son Heung-Min
11Lamela
12Wanyama
18Llorente
21Foyth
22Gazzaniga
33Davies
Referee:
Kevin Friend
Attendance:
31,890
Match Stats
Home TeamSouthamptonAway TeamTottenham
Possession
Home37%
Away63%
Shots
Home12
Away16
Shots on Target
Home4
Away5
Corners
Home1
Away10
Fouls
Home16
Away9
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Southampton 2, Tottenham Hotspur 1.
Full TimePosted at 90'+5'
Second Half ends, Southampton 2, Tottenham Hotspur 1.
Posted at 90'+4'
Kyle Walker-Peters (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 90'+4'
Foul by Stuart Armstrong (Southampton).
Posted at 90'+2'
Fernando Llorente (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 90'+2'
Foul by Jan Bednarek (Southampton).
Posted at 90'+1'
Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by Jan Bednarek.
Posted at 90'+1'
Attempt blocked. Moussa Sissoko (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Christian Eriksen with a cross.
Posted at 90'+1'
Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by Stuart Armstrong.
Posted at 90'
Attempt saved. Nathan Redmond (Southampton) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Stuart Armstrong.
BookingPosted at 88'
Nathan Redmond (Southampton) is shown the yellow card.
BookingPosted at 88'
Moussa Sissoko (Tottenham Hotspur) is shown the yellow card.
Posted at 87'
Foul by Moussa Sissoko (Tottenham Hotspur).
Posted at 87'
Nathan Redmond (Southampton) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Posted at 86'
Attempt blocked. Josh Sims (Southampton) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Pierre-Emile Højbjerg.
SubstitutionPosted at 82'
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Fernando Llorente replaces Dele Alli.
SubstitutionPosted at 82'
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Ben Davies replaces Danny Rose.
Goal!Posted at 81'
Goal! Southampton 2, Tottenham Hotspur 1. James Ward-Prowse (Southampton) from a free kick with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
BookingPosted at 79'
Kyle Walker-Peters (Tottenham Hotspur) is shown the yellow card.
Posted at 78'
Foul by Kyle Walker-Peters (Tottenham Hotspur).
Posted at 78'
Stuart Armstrong (Southampton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
BookingPosted at 78'
Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (Southampton) is shown the yellow card.
Posted at 78'
Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (Southampton) has gone down, but that's a dive.
Goal!Posted at 76'
Goal! Southampton 1, Tottenham Hotspur 1. Yan Valery (Southampton) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Stuart Armstrong.
Posted at 74'
Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Posted at 74'
Foul by Yan Valery (Southampton).
Posted at 73'
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
SubstitutionPosted at 73'
Substitution, Southampton. Stuart Armstrong replaces Shane Long because of an injury.
SubstitutionPosted at 72'
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Son Heung-Min replaces Lucas Moura.
Posted at 71'
Delay in match Shane Long (Southampton) because of an injury.
Posted at 68'
Attempt missed. Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses the top left corner. Assisted by Christian Eriksen.
Posted at 67'
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Posted at 65'
Delay in match Shane Long (Southampton) because of an injury.
Posted at 64'
Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 64'
Foul by Shane Long (Southampton).
Posted at 63'
Attempt missed. Nathan Redmond (Southampton) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Shane Long.
Posted at 62'
Attempt saved. Christian Eriksen (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Harry Kane.
Posted at 62'
Attempt missed. Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (Southampton) left footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high.
Posted at 60'
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Dele Alli.
Posted at 59'
Foul by Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur).
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Source: bbc.com