This match was a perfect example part of the greatness of soccer. Here we are late in the season, neither team is going to win a trophy, but both sides had something to play for. Tottenham was trying to chase a Champions League spot while Blackpool needed every point they could muster to stay up in the Premier League next year.
Spurs came out on the front foot. Knowing they needed all three points ahead of a clash with Man City, they came out after an early goal against the Tangerines. Gareth Bale was active early with a shot on target in the 14th minute Modric also had a shot in the 17th that was deflected wide, and Spurs were looking pretty good.
Blackpool never just sits back though, and you could tell they were not at all awed by playing at White Hart Lane. They had a flurry of chances about mid first half and forced Gomes into some great saves.
Gareth Bale kept at it though. He had a great chance blocked in the 30th. He needed a little help though. In the 33rd minute he sent one of the best crosses you'll see but nobody could get on the end of it. Despite multiple chances from both sides, we went to the half on a 0-0 tie.
The tempo was pretty high when both sides came out for the second half. Things were marred in the 62nd minute with a major injury. Blackpool Captain Charlie Adam took down Gareth Bale on a rough tackle that wasn't even deemed a foul. Turns out to be bad news for Spurs. Bale is out for the remainder of the season with ruptured ligaments in his ankle.
Things got really interesting in the 74th minute when Dawson was tagged for handball in the box, giving Blackpool a penalty. Charlie Adam stepped up to take, and hit a pretty good PK, but Gomes got to it and knocked it out of bounds. However, on the next play Gomes made a horrible tackle in the box for a foul, and Blackpool got another PK. Adam didn't miss this chance, he slotted it and put the Tangerines up 0-1.
Spurs really turned it up a notch after that to try to get the equalizer. In fact, it didn't really look like it was going to happen. However, in the 89th minute, Jermaine Defoe blasted a shot in from distance that equalized at the death, and the match ended at 1-1.
Blackpool will certainly do better with the single point than Spurs as they struggle to stay up. The result put Tottenham in an even bigger whole prior to the City match, which we know didn't turn out the way they planned either. Now it looks like Spurs may not even get a Europa league spot next year.
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