Saturday 6 May 2017 08:54, UK
West Ham left Tottenham's Premier League title hopes in tatters as Manuel Lanzini's second-half goal secured a 1-0 victory at the London Stadium on Friday Night Football.
Lanzini's fired home from close range with 25 minutes remaining following some pinball in the Spurs area as they failed to clear Aaron Cresswell's cross.
The result means Chelsea can win the Premier League by winning their next two games, at home to Middlesbrough on Monday Night Football and at West Brom next Friday, before Spurs next play at home to Manchester United on Nissan Super Sunday.
West Ham had goalkeeper Adrian to thank for keeping Spurs at bay throughout the game, producing superb saves from Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son in both halves, as the hosts held on for a vital win over their London rivals.
West Ham now have 42 points, and are mathematically safe from relegation.
After a gritty opening 20 minutes, the first big chance fell to Spurs and Kane, who was denied twice by Adrian.
First, his 20-yard effort was fumbled by the Hammers stopper, before Dele Alli's rebound was blocked and Kane's second effort was superbly turned over the bar by Adrian's foot.
From the resulting corner, Adrian then tipped away Eric Dier's header with a smart save as Spurs came to life.
But West Ham had chances of their own and went close when Lanzini was played through by Mark Noble, only for Hugo Lloris to rush out and just about get enough on the ball outside the box to avoid a foul and red card.
With Lloris grounded, Cheikhou Kouyate tried to lob the ball into the net, but could not hit the target from the edge of the box.
Christian Eriksen wasted a good chance on the hour mark, poking straight at Adrian after a fine Tottenham move involving Son and Kyle Walker, before Adrian tipped wide Son's effort from 20 yards towards the bottom corner.
But it was the hosts who took the lead on 65 minutes through Lanzini, who lashed home low from five yards out after Sam Byram and Andre Ayew had kept the ball alive in the box from a Cresswell cross.
Tottenham threatened to fall apart after falling behind, as Toby Alderweireld's mistake in defence allowed Jonathan Calleri a clear sight at goal, but his effort was saved brilliantly by Lloris.
Eriksen shot just wide from range late on, before Ashley Fletcher missed a late one-on-one on the counter attack, but it ended 1-0 to West Ham, a Premier League-high seventh win by that scoreline this season.
Player ratings
West Ham: Adrian (8), Fonte (7), Reid (7), Collins (7), Byram (7), Kouyate (7), Noble (7), Cresswell (7), Lanzini (8), Ayew (7), Calleri (7)
Subs: Snodgrass (NA), Fletcher (NA), Fernandes (NA)
Tottenham: Lloris (6), Walker (4), Alderweireld (5), Vertonghen (5), Davies (5), Dier (6), Wanyama (6), Son (5), Eriksen (5), Alli (5), Kane (5)
Subs: Dembele (5), Janssen (5), Trippier (NA)
Man of the match: Manuel Lanzini
