Pro Sports

Moura's hat trick helps Tottenham beat Huddersfield 4-0

Posted April 13, 2019 7:00 am

The Associated Press

Tottenham's Lucas Moura applauds fans at the end of the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Huddersfield Town at Tottenham Hotspur stadium in London, Saturday, April 13, 2019.(AP Photo/Frank Augstein) The Associated Press

LONDON (AP) - Lucas Moura scored a hat trick as Tottenham stayed on course for a top-four finish in the Premier League by beating Huddersfield 4-0 on Saturday.

Moura helped Spurs overcome the absence of injured striker Harry Kane by becoming the first player with a hat trick in the club's new stadium after Victor Wanyama opened scoring in the 24th minute.

Moura scored the second goal just three minutes later and then added two late strikes as Huddersfield, already relegated, limped toward its 26th loss in 34 league games this season.

The win lifts Tottenham one point above Chelsea into third place with five games remaining. Chelsea will face first-place Liverpool on Sunday.

Moura and Wanyama were among seven changes made by manager Mauricio Pochettino from Tuesday's 1-0 win over Manchester City in the first leg of Spurs' Champions League quarterfinal - a game in which Kane suffered a left ankle injury that could rule him out for the rest of the season.

But Tottenham was in control from the start. It took the lead when Wanyama ran onto a ball that striker Fernando Llorente couldn't control then coolly rounded the goalkeeper to slot home.

While Llorente was ineffective as Kane's replacement, Moura showed he can shoulder some of the scoring burden. He doubled Tottenham's lead when he latched onto a through ball from Moussa Sissoko and arrowed a shot into the bottom left-hand corner.

After Huddersfield missed a couple of good second-half chances to get back in the game, Moura wrapped up the points for Tottenham in the 87th when he controlled a pinpoint cross from Christian Eriksen with one foot before using the other to fire past Ben Hamer.

He still had time to complete the hat trick as he lashed a shot from a tight angle into the top corner in injury time.

Moura celebrated after the final whistle by bringing his 1-year-old son onto the field, with the crowd cheering every time the toddler kicked the ball toward his father.

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More AP English soccer: https://apnews.com/PremierLeague and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Tottenham's Lucas Moura hugs his son end of the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Huddersfield Town at Tottenham Hotspur stadium in London, Saturday, April 13, 2019.(AP Photo/Frank Augstein) The Associated Press

Tottenham's goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, left, makes a save during the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Huddersfield Town at Tottenham Hotspur stadium in London, Saturday, April 13, 2019.(AP Photo/Frank Augstein) The Associated Press

Tottenham's Victor Wanyama celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Huddersfield Town at Tottenham Hotspur stadium in London, Saturday, April 13, 2019.(AP Photo/Frank Augstein) The Associated Press

Tottenham's Lucas Moura celebrates after scoring his side's fourth goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Huddersfield Town at Tottenham Hotspur stadium in London, Saturday, April 13, 2019.(AP Photo/Frank Augstein) The Associated Press

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