Tottenham’s poor run away from home continued after a 90th minute Michael Keane stunner earned Everton a hard earned point at Goodison Park.
Cristian Stellini’s reign as the Spurs interim head coach looked like it was going to get off to the perfect start, but a late, late long range effort from Everton’s centre-back shocked everyone to send the home fans into raptures and earn the Toffees a much needed point in their survival bid.
After a tentative first half that saw referee David Coote let a lot of fouls go unpunished, things finally boiled over early in the second half as Abdoulaye Doucoure tangled with Harry Kane in the 58th minute. Both players were involved in some pushing and shoving before a moment of madness from the Everton midfielder saw him receive his marching orders after striking the England captain in the face.
“He’s had a shocker, I can’t defend him” Alan Smith declared on commentary and you have to agree with him.
And just 10 minutes later, Everton and Doucoure were punished after Michael Keane brought down Cuti Romero in the box and Spurs were awarded their fifth penalty of the season. Harry Kane picked up the ball and dispatched his spot kick past England teammate Jordan Pickford to become just sixth player to reach 250 Premier League goal involvements after Alan Shearer, Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard, Ryan Giggs and Andy Cole.
Lucas Moura in the Premier League this season:
12 appearances
119 minutes played
1 red card
0 assists
0 goalsA moment of madness. ? pic.twitter.com/gkOpXJR2Cf
— Squawka (@Squawka) April 3, 2023
Instead of accepting their fate, the Toffees came out firing as all Sean Dyche’s sides do, having seven shots and four on target after Kane’s strike and in the 88th minute, the game turned on it’s head again as substitute Lucas Moura saw red to make it 10-men apiece, for a bad tackle he won’t want to see again.
Just as things looked to be petering out, step forward Michael Keane, as he unleashed an unstoppable strike past Hugo Lloris to level the game with just stoppage time remaining. Just like Vincent Komapany’s famous strike against Leicester, this was Keane’s first ever Premier League goal from outside the box and it will be one he will remember for a long, long time, even if it came as a big of a surprise to him.
“I was in shock a bit, I couldn’t believe it happened” He told Sky Sports after watching his goal back after the game.
“You won’t believe me but every now and again I do hit the ball like that in training, to be honest with you, I didn’t even feel it come off my foot it was so sweet”
Michael Keane's goal against Tottenham was the first-ever Premier League goal he's scored from outside of the box.
It was well worth the wait. ?
(video via @SkySportsPL)pic.twitter.com/Jszmb4zmgT
— Squawka (@Squawka) April 3, 2023
This result moved Spurs back into the top four for now at least, but it will be more two points lost than one point gained at the end of the season. Managerless Tottenham now sit a staggering 22 points behind rivals Arsenal with just nine games remaining and the Gunners can celebrate ‘St.Totteringham’s Day’ for the first time since 2016 if they beat Liverpool and Spurs lose to Brighton at the weekend.