NOTTINGHAM, Dec 16: Dejan Kulusevski set up a goal and scored another as Tottenham gained ground on the top four by beating Nottingham Forest 2-0 in the English Premier League on Friday.
The Sweden midfielder collected goalkeeper Matt Turner’s sloppy clearance and fired through the US international’s hands from a tight angle in the 65th minute.
Earlier, Kulusevski sent a cross for Richarlison to head into the net in first-half stoppage time.
Spurs played with 10 men after the 70th when Yves Bissouma was red-carded for a studs-up foul on Ryan Yates. They have won two in a row after snapping a five-game winless slide on Sunday with a 4-1 win over Newcastle, and were level on points with fourth-placed Manchester City. City led on goal difference ahead of its game against Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Forest manager Steve Cooper will surely face more pressure after picking up just one point in the last six games.
The home team briefly thought it equalized through Anthony Elanga from close range just before the hour mark, but he was ruled offside through VAR.
Minutes later, it was 2-0. After Kulusevski’s goal, Turner pounded the turf with both hands, lowered his head and covered his face.
Turner made an early stop on Son Heung-min’s shot but couldn’t get to Kulusevski’s left-footed in-swinging cross from the right side in first-half stoppage time.
Richarlison rose high over a defender and headed it home from close range.
Luton captain Tom Lockyer collapses during match
The game between Bournemouth and Luton was suspended midway through the second half on Saturday after Luton captain Tom Lockyer collapsed on the field.
Both teams left the field while Lockyer received medical treatment for around seven minutes at the Vitality Stadium. Lockyer was eventually carried away on a stretcher. The score was 1-1 at the time. (AP)
