Kane strikes, but Spurs held by Brighton

Kane fired Tottenham ahead in the 48th minute when his close-range shot deflected in off Brighton defender Bruno. It was Kane’s 26th of the season and kept him in with a chance of catching Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, who sits ahead of the Tottenham striker on 30 goals in the race to finish as the Premier League’s top scorer. But Mauricio Pochettino’s side, which faces Manchester United at Wembley on Saturday, left the Amex Stadium frustrated after conceding an equaliser two minutes after Kane’s opener. 

Albion drew level when Pascal Gross slotted home a penalty awarded for Serge Aurier’s foul on Jose Izquierdo. Tottenham has gone two games without a league 

victory, but it is still in pole position to qualify for next season’s Champions League via a top four finish. It is in fourth place, eight points ahead of fifth placed Chelsea, which has only five matches left to close the gap. 

Tottenham winger Son Heung-Min went closest to breaking the first-half deadlock with a low shot which forced a fine save from Albion goalkeeper Mat Ryan. Pochettino’s men took the lead when a poor pass from Gross, followed by indecision from Gaetan Bong, allowed Son to slip into the area. 

The South Korean did well to keep control and the ball eventually broke for Kane to sweep home. 

However, Brighton was back on level terms in the 50th minute as Izquierdo won a penalty by inducing Aurier’s rash challenge. Regular penalty taker Glenn Murray, who has missed twice from the spot this season, stepped aside to allow Gross to shoot under Hugo Lloris’s dive.