Kane, Bale combine to deadly effect as Tottenham thrash Crystal Palace


Tottenham rose to sixth in the Premier League with a 4-1 win over Crystal Palace – with Harry Kane contributing to all four of their goals.

Spurs had suffered a blip in form after the turn of the year, but now seem to be back on track. This was their fourth win in a row across all competitions – the first time they have managed that since November.

The result was never really in doubt, with Kane and Gareth Bale combining to deadly effect time after time. The pair both ended the game with braces as a reward.

There was an early chance for Tottenham when Bale skipped past a couple of Palace defenders before sending a cross in. Son Heung-min rose to head it, but Vicente Guaita caught the ball.

Bale remained the danger man, though, and gave Spurs the lead in the 25th minute.

Palace sloppily lost possession in their defensive third, allowing Harry Kane to pounce. He dribbled towards the byline and sent it across the goalmouth for Bale, who provided the finishing touch.

Tottenham continued putting pressure on Palace and when they won a free kick on the edge of the box, it was a chance to double their lead. However, Kane’s effort deflected off the wall and led to nothing.

Bale kept creating danger, sending in a cross for fellow former Real Madrid man Sergio Reguilon. However, it was tricky for the onrushing full-back to connect with, so his effort went wide.

Opposition left-back Patrick Van Aanholt created a sniff of danger for Palace with a burst forward shortly after. But Davinson Sanchez disrupted him, sending the ball behind for a corner – from which no real chance was created.

But Palace did make something from a wide area in open play on the verge of half-time. A cross came in from Luka Milivojevic on the left and Christian Benteke rose highest in the box to send a towering header in – sending Spurs in stunned at the break.

Tottenham produce quickfire response

If the hosts had some fears heading into the second half, they soon allayed them. A quickfire start saw them not just regain the lead, but put a two-goal gap between their opponents.

Just four minutes after the re-start, Bale got his second goal of the evening after being set up again by Kane. The England captain flicked a header onto the Welshman, who finished with the same part of his anatomy.

Then, three minutes later, Kane got on the scoresheet himself. Receiving the ball outside the box, he sent it curling into the far corner around his shoulder with a sublime finish.

Now it was Palace who once again needed a response, and Wilfried Zaha kept Spurs awake by sending a shot crashing against their goalpost.

But Tottenham ended any hopes they had of a comeback when Kane extended their lead to three

Erik Lamela sent the ball out wide to Son, who cushioned it across the six-yard box for Kane. The striker had a tap in to get his second of the evening.

There was a VAR check to see if Kane was onside, but fortunately for him, it was found that he was level when the ball was played. Hence, the goal stood.


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It completed a resounding win for Tottenham, who thus take advantage of Liverpool dropping points earlier in the day and rise above last season’s champions in the table.

Jose Mourinho’s side have also gone above West Ham, although that could change if their London rivals get a result against Leeds on Monday.

In terms of what was within their control, though, Tottenham could not have asked for much more.





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