Tottenham held 1-1 at West Ham to dent Champions League hopes
Tottenham's Son Heung-min reacts after missing a chance to score during the English Premier League soccer match between West Ham and Tottenham, at the London stadium in London, Tuesday, April 2, 2024. Credit: AP/Kirsty Wigglesworth
LONDON — Tottenham missed the chance to overtake Aston Villa in the race for Champions League qualification after settling for a 1-1 draw at West Ham on Tuesday in the Premier League.
Brennan Johnson had given fifth-place Spurs an ideal start at London Stadium, but that was canceled out by Kurt Zouma's leveler in the 19th.
West Ham could have even gone on to win if Michail Antonio had been more ruthless with a second-half chance.
The forward raced through on goal after an hour, but with only Guglielmo Vicario to beat, he fired straight at the Spurs goalkeeper.
Spurs knew a big enough win would have seen it overtake fourth-place Villa on goal difference. And that looked like a possibility when the visitors raced into an early lead after Timo Werner burst past Vladimir Coufal and played in Johnson to convert from close range.
But manager Ange Postecoglou was left frustrated when Jarrod Bowen’s corner was turned in by an unmarked Zouma.
The result left Tottenham two points behind Villa, having played the same number of games.
Tottenham's head coach Ange Postecoglou applauds at the end of the English Premier League soccer match between West Ham and Tottenham, at the London stadium in London, Tuesday, April 2, 2024. Credit: AP/Kirsty Wigglesworth