LONDON (AP) — Tottenham Hotspur took a small and potentially crucial step toward retaining its Premier League status after drawing at home with Leeds United 1-1 on Monday.
Spurs, just above the drop zone, moved two points clear of relegation rival West Ham.
Tottenham went ahead in the 50th minute on Mathys Tels’ strike.
However, Tels’ foul on Ethan Ampadu with 15 minutes left led to a Leeds penalty that was converted by Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Spurs takes on Chelsea away and Everton at home in their last two games, while West Ham is away at Newcastle before facing Leeds at home on the final day of the season.
One of the two teams will join the already relegated Burnley and Wolves in next season’s Championship.
Spurs went into the game on a high after two consecutive victories, but though they dominated the first half in terms of possession and shots on goal, they didn’t break the deadlock until five minutes into the second half.
Pedro Porro’s corner kick was cleared to an unmarked Tels, who coolly struck into the far corner of the net from 20 meters out. It was the center forward’s first goal since Jan. 7.
Tels turned villain 24 minutes later when his high foot was adjudged to have made contact with Ethan Ampadu’s head.
The referee pointed to the spot and Calvert-Lewin, who was denied a first-half penalty after a video review, confidently dispatched the spot kick.
In an edgy last few moments and a remarkable 15 minutes of added time there were no more goals. Spurs will content themselves that their destiny remains in their hands.
“We played a good game but there was big pressure,” Tottenham coach Roberto De Zerbi said. “We didn’t play calmly. We wanted to win immediately without passes. When you are fighting for relegation you can’t play every game calmly.
“Leeds played a good game and we hope they play like that against West Ham in the next game.”
Spurs have taken eight out of a possible 12 points since De Zerbi’s debut defeat at Sunderland on April 12.
“We deserve to stay up,” he said. “We will fight until the end. . . . Even if we had won today it wouldn’t have been finished yet.”
Hull secures playoff spot
Hull will play Southampton or Middlesbrough in the Championship playoff final after second half goals from Mo Belloumi and Joe Gelhardt gave it a 2-0 win over Millwall in London.
Belloumi’s 64th-minute strike with his left foot broke the deadlock in the second game of the two-leg affair and Gelhardt made sure with a low shot that squirmed past the Millwall goalkeeper.
The win means Hull have one match to secure a place in the Premier League for the first time since it was relegated in 2017.
Southampton and Middlesbrough drew the first leg 0-0 on Saturday and will play their return tie on Tuesday.
The playoff final is set for Wembley on May 23.
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
