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Crystal Palace logo
Premier League | Gameweek 38
Jul 26, 2020 at 4pm UK
Selhurst Park
Spurs logo

Crystal Palace
1 - 1
Spurs

Schlupp (53')
McCarthy (17'), Mitchell (49'), Kouyate (75')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Kane (13')
Alderweireld (61'), Dier (90+1')

Harry Kane secures European football for Spurs with final-day draw at Palace

Harry Kane secures European football for Spurs with final-day draw at Palace
© Reuters
Spurs finished sixth, above Wolves on goal difference, to secure Europa League qualification.

Tottenham booked their place in next season's Europa League after a 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace.

Spurs had to better Wolves' result at Chelsea to guarantee a top-six finish and they did the job as Harry Kane's 14th goal in 19 games under Jose Mourinho helped earn the decisive point.

It was far from convincing, though, as Palace levelled through Jeffrey Schlupp and were the better team in the second half at Selhurst Park as they ended a seven-game losing streak.

Nonetheless, to secure their place in Europe has to be heralded as as impressive achievement as they were seven points off sixth after defeat to Sheffield United earlier this month, but a six-game unbeaten streak has got them there, even if it is on goal difference.

For Roy Hodgson, the manner of their display will give him reason to be optimistic after a horrible few weeks of the return.

It looked like it would be an easier afternoon for the visitors than it turned out to be.

Spurs had threatened in just the fourth minute when a fast break saw Lucas Moura's cross just evade Son Heung-min, with Giovani Lo Celso firing straight at Vicente Guaita.

So, there was little surprise when they went ahead in the 13th minute and even less surprise at who scored it.

Kane has been in a rich vein of form since the restart and scored his seventh goal in eight games with a fine finish.

Lo Celso did the hard work by silkily beating his man to feed Kane and there was little doubt about the end result as the England captain cut inside and fired into the bottom corner.

That gave Mourinho's men what they needed and they were happy to allow Palace possession and look to hit them on the counter-attack.

Another lightning break saw Harry Winks' cross just evade Kane while Moura's surge into the box saw him round goalkeeper Guaita but could not pick out a man.

Spurs were punished for failing to assert themselves and Palace levelled eight minutes after the restart.

Scott Dann climbed highest from Jordan Ayew's corner and his header eventually fell to Schlupp, who fired home from close range.

Mourinho's men were rattled and were on the back foot as Palace smelled blood.

They almost got lucky with one as a cross from the right bamboozled Hugo Lloris and hit the near post while Ayew fizzed an effort wide after Moussa Sissoko lost control in a dangerous area.

Spurs were living dangerously, failing to have a shot on target in the second half, and almost lost it in added time.

Palace forced a late free-kick and an inviting delivery was met by Dann, but his free header was placed wide.

The visitors nervously held on to ensure European qualification, with Mourinho and his staff celebrating at the end.

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Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min celebrates scoring their third goal on February 5, 2020
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


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