Harry Kane scored another brace as Tottenham moved within seven points of leaders Chelsea with a convincing 3-2 win over Everton on Sunday.
Spurs started the game fast, giving Everton little time to settle on a damp and windy afternoon at White Hart Lane. The Toffees struggled to find any sort of rhythm, largely thanks to the pressure constantly applied by the home side.The game was set alight by Kane in the 20th minute, who scored his second goal in two matchesfrom outside the area with a stunner from 30 yards. Everton were sloppy, struggling to string passes together in what was a lacklustre first half.
Kane scored his second in the 56th minute after some sloppy defending from Morgan Schneiderlin, with the Englishman coolly slotting past Joel Robles and ending Everton's hopes of a point. The Merseysider's did appear to wake up as the game edged towards it's climax, and Romelu Lukaku finished past Hugo Lloris after a slip by Jan Vertonghen to set up a grandstand ending,but it was Spurs that deservedly took all three points with a late goal from youngster Dele Alli. Substitute Enner Valencia did firehome for Everton's second following a quickly taken free kick, but it was too little too late for the Toffees.
Tottenhamwent in to this match in second place, hoping to keep their faint title hopes alive and ensure Chelsea are kept looking over their shoulder. And their determination was clear from the first minute, with Spurs looking to try and take control of the game early on. Although dominant, the home side were unable to break through what looked a solid Everton defensive unit.
That was until Kane decided to turn on the style in the 20th minute. The Englishman gathered the ball halfway inside the Everton half and began to march towards goal. As the Everton defence backed off, Kane unleashed a right footed rocket from 30 yards out, beating Robles and settling in the bottom corner. Questions will be asked over whether the Toffees goalkeeper could have done better, but it was fantastic strike by Kane nonetheless.
Harry Kane has now scored 9 goals in his last 4 Premier League home games for Spurs.
White Hart Kane. ⚪� pic.twitter.com/OkERmSHGoP
Spurs continued to press after the break, looking to get the all important second goal to put daylight between the two teams and Everton seemed all too happy to oblige with some sloppy play at the back. Joel Robles rolled the ball out to Schneiderlin, who was in turn caught in possession by Moussa Dembele. Dele Alli clipped the ball through to Harry Kane who kept his head to slot past the on-rushing Robles and give Spurs the cushion that they craved.
Everton appeared to wake up slightly after the second goal, with Leighton Baines and Seamus Coleman making a number of positive runs down the wings for the Toffees, but they struggled to test Hugo Lloris - a spectator for the majority of the game.
However, it wasn't over just yet. A slip from Belgian defender Jan Vertonghen gifted the ball to Romelu Lukaku, who in turn expertly slotted past Lloris, giving Everton a glimmer of hope in to the last 10 minutes and becoming Everton's all time leading scorer with 61 goals.
It looked to be a nervy ending to the game for Spurs, who had dominated for much of the game. However, a wonderful through ball from Harry Winks allowed Dele Alli to cut through the defence and delicately finish past Robles in the Everton goal.
Enner Valencia did score the Toffees' second in the fourth minute of stoppage time in what was a frantic climax to an entertaining game, but Spurs held on to strengthen their Champions League credentials and place the emphasis on to Manchester City and Liverpool in the race for second. Everton can take heart from their late surge, but remain seventh in the table, five points behind Manchester United.