Bournemouth vs Tottenham result: Spurs see red as Nathan Ake heads winner to hit top four hopes

Bournemouth 0-1 Tottenham: The Dutchman headed in in injury time after both Son Heung-min and Juan Foyth saw red for violent conduct either side of half-time

Jonathan Valentine
Vitality Stadium
Saturday 04 May 2019 14:29 BST
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Tottenham's indiscipline cost them the chance of guaranteeing Champions League football next season as they finished with nine men at the Vitality Stadium.

Son Heung-min and Juan Foyth saw red in a crazy period either side of half-time before Nathan Ake's late header sunk Spurs.

A win would have booked a fourth successive top-four spot for Mauricio Pochettino's side, but they must now win their final game of the season against Everton next week.

Bournemouth were not great and had debutant goalkeeper Mark Travers to thank for keeping them in it with a string of saves before Tottenham lost their heads.

Spurs should have had the game wrapped up but Travers denied Lucas Moura and Dele Alli on multiple occasions.

Pochettino did not want to leave anything to chance and his strong team selection showed that he wanted to get the job done on the south coast.

His best available XI started, with no attention paid to Wednesday's second leg in Amsterdam.

In contrast, Bournemouth handed a first league start to rookie goalkeeper Mark Travers, a 19-year-old who came over from Ireland, and his Premier League career almost got off to an embarassing start.

Lucas Moura won possession back on the halfway line and spotted Travers off his line, but his Beckhamesque shot flew just wide.

But the teenager soon showed why Eddie Howe has put so much faith in him with two excellent stops to keep his side on level terms.

Son was dismissed just before half-time (Action Images via Reuters)

First he parried Dele Alli's powerful shot with strong hands before athletically tipping Moura's shot over the crossbar as Spurs began to dominate.

He was being made to work exceptionally hard as he again denied Moura with a good save with his feet and then produced another superb to send an Alli header over the bar.

Either side of those saves Son Heung-min ought to have ended Spurs' frustration when he ghosted through the Bournemouth defence but he lashed his shot over.

Son was in the thick of the action on the stroke of half-time but it resulted in him being sent off.

After Jefferson Lerma tried to kick the ball when Son was picking it up, the South Korean uncharacteristically shoved the Bournemouth midfielder.

Foyth was sent off almost as soon as he came on (REUTERS)

Referee Craig Pawson, who had earlier opted not to send Eric Dier off and could have also awarded Bournemouth a penalty, immediately got out his red card.

They were fortunate to survive to the break as Jack Simpson planted a free header straight at the grateful Hugo Lloris.

Spurs were then in dire straits when Juan Foyth's afternoon lasted three minutes after Pawson again got his red card out.

The defender was brought on at half-time for Toby Alderweireld but soon went back to the dressing room for a reckless tackle on Simpson.

Running around with nine men four days before their Champions League semi-final second leg would not have been on Pochettino's agenda and Bournemouth began to peg them back.

Ake headed home the late winner (Getty Images) (Getty)

England striker Callum Wilson send a glancing header just wide before firing off target with shot-on-the-turn while Jordon Ibe tested Lloris from distance.

Spurs had no way out, but they were defending willfully and restricted the number of chances the Cherries were creating.

It looked like they had survived when substitute Lys Mousset headed straight at Lloris, but there was some late drama as Spurs' hopes were dashed.

Ake lost Victor Wanyama at a corner and headed home from close range to ensure the Cherries ended their home campaign with the three points.

Spurs can keep their Champions League hopes alive with a second-leg win at Ajax in midweek, but Pochettino will hope this afternoon on the south coast does not prove costly.

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