Thursday 6 April 2017 07:35, UK
Three goals in the final nine minutes saw Tottenham keep their title aspirations alive with a dramatic 3-1 victory over Swansea at the Liberty Stadium.
Mauricio Pochettino's men were two minutes plus stoppage-time away from falling adrift of leaders Chelsea after Wayne Routledge's 11th-minute opener.
But Dele Alli drew Spurs level in the 88th minute before Heung-Min Son put the visitors in front in the first of seven additional minutes.
Christian Eriksen then struck the visitors' third three minutes later to seal the vital victory that keeps Spurs second in the Premier League, seven points off top spot.
A third league defeat in their last four outings, meanwhile, sees Swansea drop into the relegation zone.
Hugo Lloris was taken ill ahead of kick-off, handing Michel Vorm the chance to start against his former club.
However, despite their captain's absence, Spurs flew out of the traps and could have taken a first-minute lead had the returning Son not seen his shot blocked.
Spurs' early dominance was replaced by a frenetic period, which ended with Swansea breaking the deadlock.
Having comfortably dealt with three corners in quick succession, a long ball from Lukasz Fabianski released Jordan Ayew in behind the Spurs defence.
His great footwork baffled former Swans defender Ben Davies, creating a yard to cross for Routledge who converted from close range.
Alli's individual brilliance almost hauled Spurs level within five minutes, but having juggled the ball in the Swansea area, his audacious over-head kick whistled over the target.
Spurs struggled to break down Swansea's well-drilled defensive unit, but when they did manage to penetrate, their accuracy let them down, Son blazing Davies' cutback over on 42 minutes.
The second half began with both sides seeing penalty appeals declined, with referee Jon Moss choosing not to penalise Toby Alderweireld's challenge on Ayew and Federico Fernandez's alleged handball.
Kyle Naughton almost followed in Routledge's footsteps by scoring against his former club, but his 56th-minute strike deflected just wide.
Despite their dominance, chances were at a premium for Spurs and it took the introduction of Vincent Janssen on the hour, who encouraged a more direct approach, to inspire their revival.
The Dutchman forced a fine save from Fabianski on 80 minutes, before Alli's goal-bound header five minutes later was parried away by the inspired Pole.
But his defences were breached three minutes later when Alli reacted quickest to turn Eriksen's deflected shot home from close range,
The announcement of seven additional minutes only helped Spurs' cause - and it took just one for them to take the lead, Janssen's neat flick releasing Son who converted past Fabianski.
Any hopes Swansea had of a response were quickly extinguished as Alli's exquisite pass set up Eriksen, who ensured Swansea's wait for a first Premier League victory over Spurs continued.
Player ratings
Swansea: Fabianski (7), Naughton (6), Fernandez (6), Mawson (6), Olsson (5), Fer (6), Cork (6), Carroll (5), Routledge (6), Ayew (7), Sigurdsson (5).
Used subs: Ki (4), Narsingh (n/a), McBurnie (4).
Tottenham: Vorm (6), Walker (6), Alderweireld (6), Vertonghen (6), Davies (6), Dier (7), Dembele (6), Sissoko (6), Alli (9), Eriksen (8), Son (8).
Used subs: Janssen (7), Nkoudou (4), Trippier (n/a).
Man of the Match: Dele Alli.
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