Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 West Ham United

At first, the tannoy announced Son had scored to the jubilation of the many Korean journalists to my left. But the trajectory of the ball did not look right.

It looked like a defender’s touch but only as the smoke cleared and the replay unrolled, did the headline writers of England realise that the moment belonged to them, and more than that the animal kingdom, not (yet) just South Korea.

Kurt Zouma, the most vilified player in England, had made the final connection and put his own side behind. Only the announcer’s original assumption deprived the home crowd of even more glee than the joy of an early opening goal itself.

From then on, Spurs cruised to a win against a jaded Hammers side who had been taken to 120 minutes in the Europa League less than 72 hours ago.  The home side had more energy and signs of mental fatigue were visible in such stars as Aaron Cresswell relatively early.

Son Heung-min scored the Lilywhite’s other two goals and could have had more as he, again, proved to be by far Spurs’ best attacking player, even in months when there is an England match on and the home press catch a Kanedemic.

Said Benrahma pulled one back at 2-0, but even then it was hard to see the Hammers finishing level. They could have done with, and would have deserved, a weekend off.

Still, the world turns and the win propelled Spurs back to fifth. With David Moyes, with some justification, tempted to prioritise the Eueropa League, it looks like a three way battle beween Arsenal. Manchester United and Spurs for that final Champions League place.

The Hammers can of course achieve a place in the Champions League the other way. Should a Premier League club win the UEFA Europa League they will automatically qualify for the group stage of next season’s UEFA Champions League regardless of their league finishing position.

According to 538.com, the Hammers chances of winning the Europa League stand at 10%.

Fourth place in the Premier League will still also qualify. Arsenal have a three-point lead and a game in hand but have Crystal Palace away and then Chelsea, Man United and West Ham still to play. Spurs have Liverpool but then nobody above Leicester. United also have Palace away, as well as Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea.

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