Friday, March 29, 2024 | Ramadan 18, 1445 H
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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Despite defeat Spurs still bidding for Europe

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On the day that saw Manchester City achieve the remarkable feat of becoming champions of the Premier League for the third consecutive year and for the fifth time in six years, Brentford beat Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 with both teams still with a chance to qualify for European competition.


Both teams will go into the last game of the season with Brentford just a point behind Tottenham and vying for at least the Europa Conference League next season depending on the results of Brighton and Aston Villa who are also in contention for Europe. That is how close the fight remains.


Brentford manager, Thomas Frank said: “We are depending on other results so don’t know exactly how it will go. We know Tottenham and Villa need to drop points and on the last game of the season we’re facing the best team in the world (meaning Manchester City).”


He added: “But we’ll do everything to make an outstanding season even better. We showed this season we can beat everyone, we can also lose to everyone if we don’t perform.”


Tottenham dominated the first half of the game taking the lead in the 8th minute. Spurs were given a free kick 25 yards out when Oliver Skipp was fouled and Harry Kane hit a brilliant shot – after the ball was nudged to him – into the top corner for his 28th goal of the season and 211 in total.


Tottenham then missed two fine chances. Emerson Royal’s powerful header from a cross by Heung-Min Son was cleared off the line by Rico Henry and then Arnaut Danjuma, in his first start in the team, put his header wide.


But Spurs performance dropped in the second half as the visitors improved. They equalised just five minutes after the break when Bryan Mbeumo received a pass from Yoane Wissa on the right and he went past Ben Davies to smack a low shot inside the far post.


Twelve minutes later Brentford were in the lead after Kane lost possession to Aaron Hickey who gave a lovely pass, which beat Davies, and Mbeumo put in a left footed drive into the far corner from a very tight angle.


Brentford were more in control as the second half progressed while Spurs’ performance dropped. Finally with just two minutes of normal time remaining, it was all over for Spurs. Skipp lost the ball in his own half to Shandon Baptiste who passed to Mbeumo and, in turn, he found Wissa to score Brentford’s third. As a last action of the match David Raya made an excellent save from a header by Spurs’ Richarlson, which he managed to push against a post.


Spurs acting manager, Ryan Mason said: “Of course it hurts. It’s understandable because of how the second two-thirds of the season have gone. But we know the fans will be there next season, this club will keep moving forward and now’s the time, we need to be stronger than ever.”


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