Palhinha Fires Tottenham to Premier League survival as West Ham are relegated

Joao Palhinha scored the game’s only goal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the 43rd minute.

Spurs knew they needed at least a draw heading into the match, with West Ham sitting two points behind them in the final relegation spot.

Although the Hammers went on to beat Leeds United 3-0, Palhinha’s goal proved enough to keep Tottenham up and send West Ham down instead.

Everton started on the front foot, winning a corner inside the opening 25 seconds, but Rodrigo Bentancur was on hand to head clear.

Spurs immediately went up the other end and won a free-kick after Iliman Ndiaye brought down Bentancur. Pedro Porro’s delivery was headed behind by James Tarkowski for a corner.

Porro soon had another effort deflected away from long range as Spurs searched for an early breakthrough. Conor Gallagher then fired into the side netting after the ball dropped kindly to him inside the Everton penalty area.

The home side were playing some neat one-touch football against an Everton team with little left to play for this season.

A 10th-minute corner from Mathys Tel was drilled wide by Kevin Danso, while a Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall free-kick shortly afterwards eventually found its way through to Antonin Kinsky in the Spurs goal.

Palhinha then blasted over from close range after Porro’s free-kick picked him out unmarked at the back post.

Jordan Pickford punched clear a Destiny Udogie cross with Richarlison lurking at the back post shortly before a drinks break was called due to the unusually warm conditions in London.

Gallagher was forced to head away a succession of Vitalii Mykolenko crosses as Everton began to enjoy more possession around the half-hour mark.

Ndiaye embarked on a weaving run through the Spurs defence but was eventually crowded out, while a superb tackle from Porro on Dewsbury-Hall launched another Tottenham attack. Palhinha picked up the ball on the edge of the area, but his effort deflected wide, and Danso’s header from the resulting corner lacked the power to trouble Pickford.

Tel then tried to pick out the top corner from inside the Everton box with five minutes of the first half remaining, but Tarkowski got his head in the way.

Gallagher won a free-kick in a dangerous area after a needless foul by Merlin Rohl just outside the box, but Pickford comfortably punched away Porro’s delivery.

However, the ball stayed alive and Spurs won another corner. This time there was no stopping them as Palhinha swept home after his initial header had bounced back off the post.
 

The Toffees responded with James Garner firing well wide from distance, but Spurs comfortably saw out the remainder of the first half to loud cheers from the home support.

Djed Spence started the second half as Tottenham’s liveliest player and, after being denied what looked a clear corner, he almost squeezed the ball in at the near post, only for Pickford to make a superb save.

There was less urgency from Spurs after the break, with Everton enjoying more time on the ball.

Udogie and Gallagher failed to combine down the left flank, while Tel saw a shot from the edge of the area blocked well by Michael Keane during a rare Spurs attack.

Everton manager David Moyes introduced Tyrique George and Harrison Armstrong for Rohl and Jake O’Brien as news filtered through that West Ham had taken the lead in their crucial clash.

The visitors improved after the substitutions and continued to dominate possession as the clock ticked down, prompting Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi to make changes of his own. Pape Matar Sarr and Randal Kolo Muani replaced the tiring Tel and Richarlison following a second drinks break.

Kolo Muani’s first contribution was a long-range effort that flew into the crowd, while West Ham added a second goal at the London Stadium, meaning Tottenham could not afford to lose.

Nervousness began to creep into Spurs’ play as they struggled to keep hold of the ball.

Sarr appealed for a penalty after going down under a challenge from Tim Iroegbunam, but the midfielder was instead booked for simulation.

Gallagher and Bentancur then made way for James Maddison and Archie Gray for the final 10 minutes.

Everton also made three more substitutions, with Thierno Barry, Dewsbury-Hall and Iroegbunam replaced by Beto, Charly Alcaraz and Seamus Coleman.

There was a heart-in-mouth moment for Tottenham when George squared the ball across the box following a swift Everton counterattack, but somehow the Spurs defence recovered in time to allow Kinsky to gather.

Garner then delivered another dangerous cross into the area, but Danso was well placed to head clear.

Tottenham’s final substitution saw Radu Dragușin replace Udogie as news filtered into the stadium that West Ham had won their match — and that there would be nine minutes of added time for Spurs to protect their lead.

Everton dominated possession for the remainder and Kinsky needed to be alert to deny George from pulling a goal back with a super one-handed save.  

The Toffees ultimately could not find an equaliser as Tottenham preserved their Premier League status and sent West Ham down to the Championship for next season.