A spectacular last-minute winner from Gareth Bale gave Tottenham Hotspur a pulsating 3-2 victory at West Ham on Monday.
Bale's low drive gave Tottenham the lead, but West Ham produced a determined response as Andy Carroll leveled with a penalty and Joe Cole made it 2-1 in the second half.
Spurs launched a rally and Gylfi Sigurðsson poked home a leveller before Bale produced a simply remarkable long-range winner in stoppage time.
The Welshman picked himself up after being flattened by a tackle, collected the ball off Tom Carroll and let fly with a wonderful left footed drive from 25 yards that arrowed into the far corner of the net.
It was Bale's 23rd of the season in all competitions for club and country in what is a fabulous campaign.
"Such a special talent and I think we've been able to see him this season in another level," Spurs boss André Villas-Boas told Sky Sports.
"Players like this are able to assume the responsibility in these moments.
"I think from the clips you're seeing, receiving the ball in midfield, taking it forward, being fouled, getting up and then just lining up the shot to score the winning goal. Tremendous, for sure."
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce added: "In the end, we've been beaten by Gareth Bale. He continues to produce world-class strikes. You'd think he's run out, but that was probably the best of the lot.
"The way he hit it, there's not a lot you can do and, at that stage, there's not much time to come back.
"If you go in too tight on Bale, he skips past you and, if you make him hit it from 30 yards out, it's got to be a hell of a strike to score. But, as soon as he hit it, I went, 'Oh no'."
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| Tottenham player Gareth Bale shoots to score the winning goal against West Ham Photo: Getty Images |
Bale's low drive gave Tottenham the lead, but West Ham produced a determined response as Andy Carroll leveled with a penalty and Joe Cole made it 2-1 in the second half.
Spurs launched a rally and Gylfi Sigurðsson poked home a leveller before Bale produced a simply remarkable long-range winner in stoppage time.
The Welshman picked himself up after being flattened by a tackle, collected the ball off Tom Carroll and let fly with a wonderful left footed drive from 25 yards that arrowed into the far corner of the net.
It was Bale's 23rd of the season in all competitions for club and country in what is a fabulous campaign.
"Such a special talent and I think we've been able to see him this season in another level," Spurs boss André Villas-Boas told Sky Sports.
"Players like this are able to assume the responsibility in these moments.
"I think from the clips you're seeing, receiving the ball in midfield, taking it forward, being fouled, getting up and then just lining up the shot to score the winning goal. Tremendous, for sure."
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce added: "In the end, we've been beaten by Gareth Bale. He continues to produce world-class strikes. You'd think he's run out, but that was probably the best of the lot.
"The way he hit it, there's not a lot you can do and, at that stage, there's not much time to come back.
"If you go in too tight on Bale, he skips past you and, if you make him hit it from 30 yards out, it's got to be a hell of a strike to score. But, as soon as he hit it, I went, 'Oh no'."
Related links:
Team Personal Also see:
