Tottenham and Leeds share points as VAR penalty leaves relegation race on edge

A draw that keeps the pressure on

Tottenham’s season, described even by their own manager as one marked by tension and urgency, edged closer to its conclusion with another anxious afternoon at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. A 1-1 draw with Leeds United left Spurs only two points clear of the relegation zone with two Premier League matches remaining, a margin that ensures the final weeks will be played under intense scrutiny.

The match carried the feel of a turning point for multiple clubs at the bottom end of the table. Tottenham failed to turn home advantage into a decisive win, while the result also offered encouragement elsewhere: West Ham, sitting just two points behind Spurs with two games to play, were handed a clear incentive. If West Ham beat Newcastle on Sunday, they will move above Tottenham in the standings.

For Leeds, the afternoon had a different tone. The visitors played with what was described as full focus, but they arrived already assured of Premier League football next season. Their top-flight status was confirmed after West Ham’s 1-0 defeat by Arsenal on Sunday, a development that shaped the wider context even as Leeds remained committed to the contest in north London.

Tel’s moment of quality, then a costly mistake

The game’s defining storyline belonged to Mathys Tel, who experienced a dramatic swing from match-winner to culprit. Tottenham’s forward produced the breakthrough shortly after half-time with a finish of genuine class, only to later concede a penalty through an ill-judged attempt at an acrobatic clearance.

Spurs had begun to show more intensity midway through the first half. Tel squeezed between two defenders and saw a shot deflected over, and Joao Palhinha also went close from nearer range soon after. That spell hinted at Tottenham’s potential to take control, but the match never settled into a comfortable rhythm for the home side.

After the interval, Tottenham built on their best period and found the lead in the 50th minute. Pedro Porro’s corner was cleared to Tel, who took a touch and curled a wonderful strike into the top corner. It was his fourth goal of the campaign, and it briefly looked like the type of moment that could calm nerves and set Spurs on the path to a crucial win.

Yet the same player would later be at the centre of the equaliser. With Leeds pushing for a response, Tottenham dealt with an initial ball into the area, but Tel’s attempted overhead clearance caught Ethan Ampadu in the face inside the box. Referee Jarred Gillett initially waved play on, but the incident was reviewed by VAR. After a lengthy check and a pitchside monitor review, a penalty was awarded.

VAR intervention changes the match

The equaliser arrived from the spot, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin drilling the penalty into the bottom corner. The goal levelled the match at 1-1 and ensured that Tottenham’s lead, created by Tel’s earlier brilliance, would not be enough to secure three points.

The decision itself became a central talking point because it was not given in real time. Only after the VAR review did the penalty arrive, a process that underlined how fine the margins can be in games shaped by pressure and consequence. For Tottenham, it was another moment in a season where control has often been elusive, and where small errors have carried outsized weight.

The draw also had a knock-on effect beyond the two teams on the pitch. West Ham, watching the bottom-half permutations closely, were given a clear route to climb above Spurs if they can beat Newcastle on Sunday. With two games left, Tottenham’s position remains precarious.

Missed chances and a frantic finale

Tottenham had opportunities to extend their lead before the penalty changed the balance of the game. The clearest came when Randal Kolo Muani got in behind and teed up Richarlison, but the forward blazed over. In a match where chances were not plentiful, that moment stood out as one that could have made the late drama irrelevant.

Instead, the contest grew increasingly chaotic. The match featured a remarkable 13 minutes of added time, a period that became a spectacle of last-ditch defending, appeals, and a goalkeeping moment that ultimately preserved a point for Spurs.

Leeds came close to snatching a winner when Sean Longstaff met an opportunity late on, only to be denied by what was described as one of the saves of the season. Tottenham goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky somehow pushed Longstaff’s effort onto the crossbar, a reflex stop that kept Spurs from slipping into an even more perilous position.

There was still time for one final flashpoint. Tottenham appealed for a potential foul by Lukas Nmecha on the returning James Maddison, but referee Gillett waved it away, and VAR did not intervene. The match ended with the points shared, leaving Spurs with more questions than answers.

Home form adds to Tottenham’s anxiety

Tottenham’s inability to turn their stadium into a reliable source of points has been a major theme. Spurs have won just once in their last 10 games at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, a statistic that helps explain why their season has drifted into a relegation battle rather than stabilising in mid-table comfort.

On this occasion, the home side had spells of energy and quality, particularly around Tel’s goal and the earlier first-half surge. But the overall performance was not enough to create the sense of calm that teams fighting for survival often crave. The manager’s post-match comments reflected that reality: Tottenham played a “good game, not great,” and the pressure, in his view, contributed to a lack of composure.

That pressure is now unavoidable. Tottenham remain two points clear of the relegation zone with two matches left, a narrow cushion that can disappear quickly if results elsewhere go against them.

Leeds’ focus despite safety already secured

Leeds’ approach was notable given their league status had already been secured. Their place in next season’s Premier League was confirmed following West Ham’s 1-0 defeat by Arsenal on Sunday, but Leeds still produced a committed performance and stayed in the contest even after falling behind to a top-corner strike.

They were also close to leaving with more than a point. Longstaff’s late chance, and the fact it required an outstanding save from Kinsky, showed Leeds were not content simply to see out the match. The visitors’ organisation and willingness to push late on added to Tottenham’s discomfort and contributed to the tense finish.

What the result means for the run-in

The draw reshaped the immediate outlook for the clubs involved in the relegation picture. Tottenham’s failure to win keeps them in a vulnerable position, while West Ham are now within striking distance of overtaking Spurs if they can beat Newcastle on Sunday.

Tottenham’s next fixture is away at Chelsea on Tuesday May 19, followed by a final-day meeting with Everton. West Ham, meanwhile, face Newcastle before playing Leeds on the final day. With all of those matches live on Sky Sports, the relegation battle is set to remain in sharp focus until the season’s final whistle.

• Sunday: Newcastle vs West Ham
• Tuesday: Chelsea vs Tottenham
• Final day: Tottenham vs Everton
• Final day: West Ham vs Leeds

De Zerbi: pressure, habits, and a different kind of fight

Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi spoke candidly about the emotional and tactical demands of a relegation battle. He said his team did not play with enough calm, suggesting they were trying to win “immediately” rather than managing the game with patience. While he felt Spurs played a “good game,” he acknowledged it was not a great one, and he framed the performance through the lens of the pressure surrounding the club.

De Zerbi also expressed regret about the penalty conceded, particularly because it came from the same player who had delivered Tottenham’s best moment. He highlighted Tel’s age and made clear he did not see the mistake as a major issue in terms of the player’s longer-term development, adding that he was happy with the team’s attitude and mentality.

His wider message was that Tottenham must fight until the end of the season and improve their habits. He contrasted the experience of battling relegation with the demands of chasing Champions League qualification, arguing that the psychological environment is fundamentally different and that the team needs to adapt accordingly.

De Zerbi also noted Leeds’ performance and, with West Ham looming as a direct threat in the table, said he hoped Leeds would play with the same intensity in their upcoming match against West Ham. The comment underlined how interconnected the final fixtures are, and how Tottenham’s fate may depend not only on their own results but also on the outcomes of rivals’ matches.

Standout performers and match ratings

In a game shaped by a spectacular goal, a VAR-awarded penalty, and a dramatic late save, the individual performances told their own story. Kinsky’s late intervention proved decisive in preserving a point, and he was named Player of the Match.

• Tottenham: Kinsky (8), Porro (7), Danso (7), Van de Ven (7), Udogie (7), Palhinha (7), Gallagher (6), Bentancur (8), Tel (8), Kolo Muani (7), Richarlison (6)
• Tottenham subs: Maddison (7), Bergvall (7)
• Leeds: Darlow (7), Rodon (7), Bijol (7), Struijk (7), Justin (7), James (7), Ampadu (8), Tanaka (7), Aaronson (7), Stach (6), Calvert-Lewin (7)
• Leeds subs: Gnonto (7), Nmecha (6), Bornauw (7), Longstaff (7)

A season’s tension distilled into 90 minutes

This match offered a compact summary of Tottenham’s predicament: moments of genuine quality offset by costly lapses, and a closing stretch defined by anxiety rather than control. Tel’s top-corner finish showed Tottenham can still produce decisive attacking moments, but the subsequent penalty concession illustrated how quickly a game can swing when confidence is fragile.

Leeds, safe but still sharp, were good value for their point and came close to taking all three late on. Tottenham, meanwhile, left the pitch with their fate still uncertain and their margin for error shrinking. With two games remaining and West Ham close behind, the relegation picture has taken another twist—and there is little to suggest the final chapter will be settled quietly.