BOURNEMOUTH: Tottenham Hotspur had two men sent off and failed to make sure of a Premier League top-four finish after slipping to a 1-0 defeat by Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday.
With Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United — Tottenham’s rivals for third and fourth — not in action until Sunday, a win for Spurs on the south coast would have sealed a top-four finish and qualification for next season’s Champions League.
They dominated early on in the sunshine at the Vitality, but found Premier League debutant goalkeeper Mark Travers in inspired form for the hosts as the 19-year-old made a string of fine saves.
Tottenham’s task was made all the more difficult two minutes before the interval when forward Son Heung-min was sent off for pushing Jefferson Lerma and halftime substitute Juan Foyth lasted 125 seconds before seeing red for a lunging tackle.
Bournemouth struggled to make their numerical advantage count until Nathan Ake climbed highest to meet a corner and head a dramatic winner in the 90th minute.
Spurs, who trail Ajax Amsterdam 1-0 going into their Champions League semi-final second leg on Wednesday, are two points clear of Chelsea and four ahead of Arsenal with the top-four race set to go to the final day of the season. Bournemouth lie 12th, two points ahead of Crystal Palace, who were playing Cardiff later on Saturday.
