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Crystal Palace logo
Premier League
Jan 23, 2016 at 3pm UK
 
Spurs logo

1-3

Vertonghen (30' og.)
FT(HT: 1-0)
Kane (63'), Alli (84'), Chadli (95')

Tottenham Hotspur dig deep to overcome Crystal Palace

Second-half goals by Harry Kane, Deli Alli and Nacer Chadli help Tottenham Hotspur to a 3-1 comeback win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

Tottenham Hotspur have battled back from a goal down at Selhurst Park to beat Crystal Palace 3-1 - keeping their outside Premier League title hopes alive and well.

The Lilywhites trailed at the break through Jan Vertonghen's unfortunate own goal, but Harry Kane got his side back on track before Dele Alli and Nacer Chadli produced a pair of stunning strikes late on to earn all three points in style.

Right from the off Spurs attempted to dictate the tempo of the game, but an underwhelming opening quarter to the contest saw just the single shot on goal, as Kane looked to beat Wayne Hennessey at his near post.

Son Heung-min, brought into the side as the only change from last time out in the league, also tried his luck with a dragged effort that was always going wide of the target.

Spurs continued to look the more likely to make a breakthrough but, somewhat against the run of play, Palace managed to open the scoring - and end their five-game goalless run in the process - through Vertonghen's own goal.

Jan Vertonghen of Tottenham Hotspur scores an own goal against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on January 23, 2016© Getty Images

Some nice interplay down the right culminated in the lively Wilfried Zaha swinging the ball into a central position, which the Belgian centre-back could only divert beyond his own goalkeeper from eight yards out.

That well and truly sparked the contest into life, with Alli testing Hennessey shortly after that setback, before Danny Rose forced the Welshman - at fault for a couple of goals in recent weeks - into a fine save to keep out a close-range volley.

Despite looking in control for large parts, Spurs were still often at threat of falling two behind at the back thanks to the strength of Palace's attack on the counter.

Visiting supporters felt that their side should have had a penalty in the early stages of the second half when Scott Dann appeared to handle Son's controlled ball, but Martin Atkinson made the correct call after replays showed that the Palace man instead used his face to clear the danger.

The end-to-end feel to the game continued, with Kane once more forcing Hennessey into making a solid stop at his near post after meeting Eric Dier's diagonal pass up field.

Spurs were finally on level terms 64 minutes in when Kane, described as the best goalscorer in the Premier League by opposition coach Alan Pardew this week, met substitute Chadli's left-sided cross with his head to finally get the better of Hennessey in goals.

Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates scoring his team's first goal against Crystal Palace  at Selhurst Park on January 23, 2016© Getty Images

It was the Lilywhites who appeared to have the wind in their sails from that point on, but Palace came closest to bagging a winner in the minutes immediately following the equaliser as Zaha's curler was well pushed aside by Lloris.

Both sides continued to dig deep in what was proving to be an evenly-contested match, but Palace looked to have turned the momentum in their favour when Dann and Mile Jedinak saw their respective efforts crash back off the bar in the space of a few seconds.

Having survived that major scare, Spurs went up the other end just a couple of minutes later and won the contest themselves - Alli proving the hero once again for his club by producing a strong goal of the season contender.

The summer signing from MK Dons used one touch on the edge of the box to control the ball, a second touch to loop it over a defender, and a third to smash it into the bottom corner from 20 yards out.

Dele Alli celebrates scoring Tottenham Hotspur's second goal against Crystal Palace on January 23, 2016© Getty Images

Things were to get even better for Pochettino's men soon after thanks to a third of the afternoon provided by Chadli, who came off the bench to wrap things up with a strike beyond the reach of a dejected Hennessey after being given far too much time and space.

Palace had no response in the remaining seconds, ensuring that Spurs remain just five points off the Premier League summit and well in control for a Champions League berth next season.

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Wayne Hennessey, goalkeeper of Crystal Palace throws the ball out during the Capital One Cup second round match between Crystal Palace and Shrewsbury Town at Selhurst Park on August 25, 2015
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