Match ends, Southampton 2, Tottenham Hotspur 2.
Southampton 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur
- From the section Football
- Graziano Pelle scores twice for Saints
- Lamela and Chadli level for Spurs
- Tottenham remain point above Southampton
- Discuss the match on social media using #BBCFOOTBALL
Tottenham twice came from behind to earn a valuable point at Southampton in the battle to secure European football.
Graziano Pelle gave the hosts the lead after seizing on a defensive lapse to prod home before Erik Lamela diverted the ball home via his arm for 1-1.
Pelle again put the Saints in front with a powerful header, but their lead lasted just five minutes.
Nacer Chadli latched on to Eric Dier's through ball and converted from close range to secure a point.
The result means Spurs remain sixth, a point ahead of Saints and level with fifth-placed Liverpool, who have a game in hand.
Media playback is not supported on this device
Southampton fans renamed the match Ronald Koeman Day in support of their Dutch manager and arrived at the game dressed in orange as former boss Mauricio Pochettino made his first return to St Mary's since his acrimonious departure to Spurs last summer.
Morgan Schneiderlin forced Tottenham keeper Hugo Lloris into the first save of the game before the opener arrived in the 30th minute.
Sadio Mane did the damage, splitting the Spurs defence with a searing run into the box and, with the ball at his feet and facing his own goal, Spurs left-back Ben Davies hesitated and Pelle nipped in to prod home from close range.
St Mary's was stunned into silence before the break with Lamela appearing to deflect the ball into the net with his arm as he attempted a header from Dier's cross for the equaliser.
Media playback is not supported on this device
Steven Davis and Ryan Bertrand both had chances to give Saints the lead before Pelle got his second of the game with a superb header from Shane Long's cross which powered past Lloris.
But Chadli equalised after escaping his marker and latching onto Dier's ball before holding off the challenge of Maya Yoshida to side-foot across Kelvin Davis from close range to seal a point.
Southampton manager Ronald Koeman:
"I am a little bit disappointed only to draw, but it was a very good performance in a fantastic football game between two attacking teams.
"I enjoyed it very much and I am proud of my side. We created a little bit more than them and played at a good level, but it is difficult to beat Tottenham."
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino, on his first return to St Mary's to face his former club:
"I want to thank the Spurs fans because they were fantastic and I felt their support on the pitch.
"They touched me because they backed me a lot. When they sang my name it was the first time I had heard that from them and I appreciated that so much.
"I was focused on my job but was a very tough and emotional game for me. It was difficult because I still love Southampton and I have very good memories here."
Line-ups
Southampton
- 1Davis
- 2Clyne
- 6José Fonte
- 3Yoshida
- 21Bertrand
- 17Alderweireld
- 4SchneiderlinSubstituted forReedat 90'minutes
- 16Ward-ProwseSubstituted forLongat 62'minutes
- 10Mané
- 8DavisBooked at 66minsSubstituted forEliaat 81'minutes
- 19Pellè
Substitutes
- 5Gardos
- 7Long
- 11Tadic
- 22Elia
- 25Gazzaniga
- 28Reed
- 33Targett
Tottenham
- 1Lloris
- 15Dier
- 21FazioBooked at 90mins
- 5VertonghenBooked at 31mins
- 33DaviesBooked at 34minsSubstituted forChirichesat 76'minutes
- 38Mason
- 42BentalebSubstituted forSoldadoat 87'minutes
- 11Lamela
- 23Eriksen
- 22ChadliSubstituted forDembéléat 83'minutes
- 18Kane
Substitutes
- 6Chiriches
- 9Soldado
- 12Yedlin
- 13Vorm
- 17Townsend
- 19Dembélé
- 25Stambouli
- Referee:
- Jonathan Moss
- Attendance:
- 31,622
Match Stats
Home TeamSouthamptonAway TeamTottenham
- Possession
- Home36%
- Away64%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away7
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away2
- Corners
- Home8
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away10
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Southampton 2, Tottenham Hotspur 2.
Jose Fonte (Southampton) hits the bar with a header from the centre of the box. Assisted by Eljero Elia with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Federico Fazio.
Booking
Federico Fazio (Tottenham Hotspur) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Federico Fazio (Tottenham Hotspur).
Shane Long (Southampton) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Federico Fazio.
Attempt saved. Toby Alderweireld (Southampton) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Eljero Elia with a cross.
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Vlad Chiriches.
Foul by Mousa Dembélé (Tottenham Hotspur).
Sadio Mané (Southampton) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Ryan Mason (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Harrison Reed (Southampton).
Substitution
Substitution, Southampton. Harrison Reed replaces Morgan Schneiderlin because of an injury.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match Morgan Schneiderlin (Southampton) because of an injury.
Substitution
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Roberto Soldado replaces Nabil Bentaleb.
Foul by Ryan Mason (Tottenham Hotspur).
Sadio Mané (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Erik Lamela (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Eljero Elia (Southampton).
Substitution
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Mousa Dembélé replaces Nacer Chadli.
Attempt blocked. Jose Fonte (Southampton) header from the left side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Morgan Schneiderlin with a cross.
Foul by Nabil Bentaleb (Tottenham Hotspur).
Sadio Mané (Southampton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution
Substitution, Southampton. Eljero Elia replaces Steven Davis.
Attempt blocked. Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Erik Lamela.
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Federico Fazio.
Substitution
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Vlad Chiriches replaces Ben Davies because of an injury.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur) because of an injury.
Goal!
Goal! Southampton 2, Tottenham Hotspur 2. Nacer Chadli (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Eric Dier.
Offside, Tottenham Hotspur. Eric Dier tries a through ball, but Nacer Chadli is caught offside.
Booking
Steven Davis (Southampton) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Ryan Mason (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Steven Davis (Southampton).
Goal!
Goal! Southampton 2, Tottenham Hotspur 1. Graziano Pellè (Southampton) header from the centre of the box to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Shane Long with a cross.
Attempt missed. Nacer Chadli (Tottenham Hotspur) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Erik Lamela.
Erik Lamela (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick on the right wing.