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Son Heung-min burst clear to score Tottenham’s third in the final seconds and create the illusion this might have been another routine home win. It was, in fact, anything but.
Davinson Sanchez headed Spurs into the lead in the first half but Leicester missed a glut of wonderful chances, including a penalty which proved the key moment in the game.
The taking of the spot-kick was delayed in order to allow Jamie Vardy on to take it but Hugo Lloris saved and three minutes later, Christian Eriksen extended the lead.
Son Heung-min races clear in stoppage time and slots past Kasper Schmeichel to make sure of the three points for Spurs
The South Korean international celebrates with his arms outstretched after scoring in a third successive game for Tottenham
Christian Eriksen whips an effort into the bottom corner from the edge of the area to double Tottenham’s advantage
Harry Winks joins his team-mate Eriksen in celebrating the 2-0 win as they bid to stay in the race for the league title
Anguish is etched on Jamie Vardy’s face as he sees his penalty kick saved by Hugo Lloris straight after coming off the bench
Davinson Sanchez dives in ahead of Harry Maguire to open the scoring for Tottenham just after the half-hour mark
Davinson Sanchez shares a warm embrace with team-mate Kieran Trippier after scoring his first goal for Tottenham
The Colombian international thumps the Tottenham badge on his chest after breaking the deadlock in the 33rd minute
MATCH FACTS, PLAYER RATINGS AND MATCH ZONE
Tottenham: Lloris, Trippier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Rose (Walker-Peters 88), Winks, Skipp (Alderweireld 71), Sissoko, Eriksen, Son, Llorente (Wanyama 80)
Subs not used: Foyth, Gazzaniga, Aurier, Lucas Moura
Goalscorers: Sanchez 33, Eriksen 63, Son 90+1
Booked: Rose, Son, Vertonghen
Leicester: Schmeichel, Ricardo Pereira, Maguire, Evans, Chilwell, Ndidi, Tielemans, Ghezzal (Iheanacho 72), Maddison, Barnes (Okazaki 88), Gray (Vardy 59)
Subs not used: Simpson, Morgan, Ward, Choudhury
Goalscorers: Vardy 76
Booked: Tielemans
Referee: Michael Oliver
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Christian Eriksen finds the back of the net to double Spurs’s lead. CLICK HERE for more from MATCH ZONE
Vardy then pulled one back and Leicester were pushing for an equaliser when Son was released to sprint clear and fire past Kaspser Schmeichel.
Leicester despaired and Tottenham added another three points to their collection as they clung to the fringes of the title race.
Claude Puel had started with Vardy on the bench despite the England striker’s prolific record against the Premier League’s biggest sides.
Vardy came into the game having scored 28 in 51 against the traditional Big Six, and 13 of them since the start of last season, but Demarai Gray was chosen to the lead the line, with James Maddison in support and the pace of Harvey Barnes and Rachid Ghezzal out wide.
Leicester started fluently and created a flurry of chances as Spurs looked vulnerable, both from open play and dead-ball situations.
Lloris pushed over a firm header by Harry Maguire from a free-kick delivered by Maddison and Jonny Evans won the ball from the corner which followed but could not keep his header down.
Barnes wriggled clear of Kieran Trippier and lashed another effort narrowly wide.
Kieran Trippier shoots towards goal during the early stages of Tottenham’s clash against Leicester at Wembley
Leicester midfielder Rachid Ghezzal looks to get past Tottenham left-back Danny Rose as the visitors start an attack
Tottenham midfielder Oliver Skipp and Leicester defender Ricardo Periera go in hard as they battle for the ball
Leicester midfielder James Maddison tangles with Tottenham midfielder Harry Winks as he hits the deck
Harvey Barnes aims a shot on goal as Leicester looked to attack Tottenham in the early stages of Sunday’s game
Maddison curled wide from edge of penalty box and Barnes set off again on another dribble, burrowing into the Tottenham penalty area before miscuing his shot and dragging the ball wide.
Spurs, in contrast, spluttered in attack, unable to produce anything too threatening during the opening half-hour.
Son was booked for diving when he tumbled far too easily just inside the Leicester penalty area.
Maguire took a heavy touch which allowed Son to dart in and take the ball, and then dangle his leg to ensure there was some contact before hitting the turf.
Fingers were pointed and angry words exchanged between the two players.
Referee Michael Oliver ruled it to be simulation and Son’s desperation to claim a penalty betrayed the sense of desperation creeping into Pochettino’s side as they struggled to find a way through.
Danny Rose cut in from the left and forced a save from Schmeichel but Spurs had not troubled the Leicester ‘keeper greatly when they took the lead from a corner.
Leicester defender Harry Maguire leaves a trailing leg that upends Tottenham forward Son Heung-min in the penalty area
The referee blows his whistle but awards a free-kick to Leicester as Harry Maguire angrily accuses the Spurs star
Son Heung-min and Harry Maguire were involved in an angry exchange in the aftermath of the incident in the first-half
The South Korean international was in disbelief at being awarded a yellow card by referee Michael Oliver for simulation
Danny Rose makes a marauding run down the left-hand side but sees his right-footed effort saved by Kasper Schmeichel
New Leicester signing Youri Tielemans slides in to try and dispossess Christian Eriksen during the first period
The kick was taken short, pulled to the corner of the penalty box from where Eriksen swung it into the goalmouth.
Sanchez burst onto the swerving cross with a diving header which crashed past Schmeichel and soothed the nerves.
Leicester hands went up for offside but the goal would stand as punishment for their wastefulness at the other end.
The pattern continued into the second half with even better chances squandered by the visitors.
Gray nursed a header into the gloves of Lloris when he ought to have equalised and Ben Chilwell was unable to beat the ‘keeper from the edge of the penalty area.
Then came the moment when the game lurched away from Puel’s team when referee Oliver awarded a penalty for a foul by Jan Vertonghen on Maddison.
Vardy had been preparing to come on to replace Gray and Leicester waited in order to let the substitute take the penalty.
Fernando Llorente has his head in his hands after missing an opportunity to put Tottenham further ahead in the match
Demarai Gray has a chance to draw Leicester level shortly after half-time but misses with his headed opportunity
Leicester are presented with a golden chance to equalise as James Maddison is brought down by Jan Vertonghen in the box
Maddison passed the ball to Vardy, who placed it on the spot, drove it low with his first touch of the game and watched in horror as Lloris sprang to his right and saved.
Three minutes later and Tottenham stretched further ahead.
Ricardo Pereira dithered over a clearance at right-back until it was closed down by teenager Oliver Skipp.
The ball dropped to Eriksen, who traded passes with Fernando Llorente before firing past Schmeichel from 20 yards.
Still, Leicester generated chances. One fell to Barnes with only Lloris to beat. This time the Spurs keeper saved with a foot.
Just as it felt like they would never score, Vardy made amends for his penalty miss.
Ricardo crossed low from the right and Vardy pounced to find the net from close range.
Kelechi Iheanacho drove wide and Chilwell had a header saved before Son settled the outcome.
Maddison steps up to take the spot-kick only for Jamie Vardy to be brought on by manager Claude Puel to take it instead
Vardy’s first touch is a penalty but his effort is too close to Hugo Lloris who palms it away to preserve Tottenham’s lead
Vardy makes amends by turning the ball home from close range to set up a frantic final quarter-of-an-hour at Wembley
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