Tottenham beats Crystal Palace 3-1 and bolsters grip on 4th

Posted January 23, 2016 6:00 am

The Associated Press

Tottenham Hotspurâs Dele Alli, second right is congratulated by his teammates after scoring his sides second goal of the game during the English Premier League soccer match between Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur at Selhurst Park in London, Saturday Jan. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Tim Ireland) The Associated Press

LONDON (AP) - A remarkable acrobatic goal by Dele Alli propelled Tottenham past Crystal Palace 3-1 and tightened their grip on a top-four spot in the English Premier League on Saturday.

Palace, condemned to a third straight defeat, deservedly led early despite it being through Jan Vertonghen's own goal. Palace forced Spurs to shoot in hope rather than with confidence, and even after Harry Kane leveled, Palace could have retaken the lead as it hit the crossbar twice.

That made Alli's winning score in the 84th minute all the more special, as the 19-year-old England international fearlessly produced one of the goals of the season.

Christian Eriksen headed Kane's cross to Alli, who was 25 yards out and seemingly without options. But he took one touch to control the ball, another to flick it up and back over his and Mille Jedinak's heads, and a third to volley it into the bottom left corner.

Alli hit the crossbar in the final minutes, and substitute Nacer Chadli curled in the third in injury time.

Tottenham Hotspurâs Danny Rose goes flying in the air as he defends against Crystal Palaceâs Wilfried Zaha during the English Premier League soccer match between Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur at Selhurst Park in London, Saturday Jan. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Tim Ireland) The Associated Press

Tottenham Hotspurâs Nacer Chadli shoots and scores his sides third goal of the game during the English Premier League soccer match between Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur at Selhurst Park in London, Saturday Jan. 23, 2016. Spurs won the match 3-1.(AP Photo/Tim Ireland) The Associated Press

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