LONDON — Tottenham squandered an opportunity to significantly enhance their Premier League survival chances as they settled for a 1-1 home draw against Leeds on Monday, leaving them just two points above West Ham.
In a match lacking in quality, Mathys Tel went from hero to zero, scoring a stunning opener from just outside the area, only to later concede a penalty that Dominic Calvert-Lewin converted, ensuring both teams shared the spoils.
As if the weekend’s VAR controversies weren’t enough, more drama unfolded when James Maddison, a late substitute, appeared to have been fouled in the box by Lukas Nmecha in the dying moments of the second half. However, officials claimed there was marginal contact with the ball.
Referee Jarred Gillett opted not to grant the penalty, instead awarding a corner kick.
Things could have taken a turn for the worse for Spurs if not for Antonin Kinsky, who made a spectacular late save to deny Sean Longstaff, preserving a point for Spurs.
The result leaves De Zerbi’s team with 38 points, sitting just two above West Ham with two matches left in the season.
Spurs miss crucial chance to pull away from West Ham
Amidst the swirling narratives of relegation pressure, many in north London disregarded the widely-held belief that West Ham’s defeat to Arsenal on Sunday signaled the end of the relegation struggle.
Despite the recent improvement in form since De Zerbi’s arrival, Spurs have struggled mightily at home.
No team has earned fewer points at home than Spurs this season, amassing only 12. They are yet to secure a Premier League victory on their own ground in 2026, leading to apprehension among their supporters.
While there were 24 minutes of relief as Spurs led, that joy turned to disappointment when Ampadu found his way behind Tel, leading to the equalizing penalty.
This draw could be seen as a reckoning for West Ham, who failed to move four points clear of Spurs on April 20 after a 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace, setting the stage for De Zerbi’s side to leapfrog them.
With a tough away match against Chelsea next, Spurs will need a decisive home win against Everton on the final day to keep their survival hopes alive.
Tel reflects Spurs’ tumultuous season
It seems fitting that one of the most crucial moments in Spurs’ late-season saga was generated by Tel, a player who had been adrift during the Thomas Frank era that led to their current predicament.
Twice omitted from the Champions League squad in favor of seasoned players, it would have been easy for him to shy away from the pressures of a relegation battle.
Instead, Tel has emerged as one of Spurs’ most determined players, and notably, the only first-team member not to miss any games due to illness or injury this season. An impressive accomplishment in a squad marked by consistent absences.
The home crowd erupted with joy when Tel struck a stunning goal from the edge of the penalty area, showcasing his potential. However, this high was quickly overshadowed when he attempted a needless bicycle kick clearance, leading to a penalty kick given for his error.
The silence in the stadium was palpable as the referee penalized the overconfident Spurs player for his miscalculated attempt.
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Could Kinsky’s late save prove pivotal?
While Spurs focused their efforts on finding a late winner, it was a critical save in their own box that could ultimately determine their fate between relegation and survival.
If Tel’s revival deserves a chapter in the narrative of Spurs’ season, then Kinsky’s journey from backup player to key contributor could warrant an entire book.
Initially a promising talent after joining from Slavia Prague last January, Kinsky became a forgotten figure during the tenures of Ange Postecoglou and Thomas Frank, both of whom chose Guglielmo Vicario as their first choice goalkeeper.
After a disastrous outing in a match against Atlético Madrid where he was substituted at half-time after conceding two laughable goals, Kinsky was given another opportunity when Vicario underwent a hernia operation during the March international break, and he has seized that chance.
His remarkable reaction save in the ninth of fourteen allocated minutes of stoppage time was nothing short of spectacular. Sean Longstaff must have believed he had secured a win for Leeds with a close-range shot aimed at the near post, but Kinsky’s deft right hand miraculously redirected it onto the underside of the crossbar and away from danger.
Although Spurs failed to establish a four-point gap over West Ham as they had hoped, they can credit Kinsky for maintaining a two-point cushion. With only two games left, this might prove vital in their fight against relegation.
Key statistics
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Mathys Tel netted his fourth Premier League goal of the season (second against Leeds), breaking a 14-match scoreless streak, his longest since joining.
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Tel is the first Tottenham player since Robbie Keane in February 2007 to score and concede a penalty in the same Premier League match.
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Dominic Calvert-Lewin has successfully converted eight of his ten penalty attempts in the Premier League, including seven from his last eight (four from five this season).
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Tottenham has dropped 19 points from winning positions this season, tied for the fourth-most in the Premier League; only Newcastle (27), West Ham (20), and Bournemouth (20) have more.
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This season, Spurs have scored 17 goals from corners in the Premier League, tying them with Arsenal and Inter Milan for the most among Europe’s top five leagues.
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According to Opta, Tottenham now has a 19% chance of relegation following their 1-1 draw with Leeds United (West Ham is at 81%).
Information from ESPN’s Global Sports Research contributed to this story.