By IVES GALARCEP
Clint Dempsey has made a habit of turning up his form in the second half of seasons and he continued to elevate his game on Sunday, scoring the first goal in a three-goal rally that helped Tottenham secure a vital 3-1 victory over Manchester City at White Hart Lane.
Man City opened the scoring in the first half, and looked to be in control of the match as the second half ticked away, but some key second-half substitutions by Spurs helped spark a rally. Gareth Bale played provider in the 75th minute when he sent a hard and low cross toward the back-post, where Dempsey snuck in behind the Man City defense to slot home the equalizer.
Dempsey’s goal gave Tottenham the momentum to rally for the victory, with Jermaine DeFoe snatching the lead in the 79th minute with a right-footed blast that sent Tottenham fans into a frenzy and put City on the ropes.
Bale provided the final blow, racing onto a perfect pass from Tom Huddlestone to seal the victory and boost Tottenham’s chances of securing a top-four place in the Premier League.
The defeat squeezed what little life remained in Manchester City’s title hopes, leaving Manchester United with a chance to secure the league title with a win against Aston Villa on Monday.
Here is Dempsey’s equalizer: