Tottenham 4-3 Leeds: Late Rodrigo Bentancur brace secures three points for Antonio Conte’s side

Two goals in two minutes by Rodrigo Bentancur at the end of a frenetic contest rescued Tottenham and secured their place in the top four as the Premier League breaks for the World Cup.

Leeds took the lead three times only to be pegged back on each occasion and eventually beaten by Bentancur’s second, created by the outstanding Dejan Kulusevski in the 83rd minute.

The visitors finished with 10 men. Tyler Adams collected his second yellow card for a trip on Yves Bissouma and by this time Tottenham were on their way to a much-needed victory.

Antonio Conte could not hide his joy after Bentancur’s late double secured the three points in a hard-fought victory

For most of the game, that did not seem likely but Bentancur equalised in the 81st minute, beating goalkeeper Illan Meslier with the help of a deflection, and won it two minutes later with a tap in after a sublime dribble by Kulusevski.

The Swedish international winger was starting for the first time since injury, as was fellow forward Richarlison but Tottenham’s problems at the back continued.

Leeds went ahead in the 10th minute, piercing the hosts with a diagonal move from right to left, through Willy Gnonto and Brenden Aaronson and into the channel between Emerson Royal and Eric Dier.

Crysencio Summerville opened the scoring marking his fourth goal in as many league games for the Yorkshire club

Harry Kane struck back after 25 minutes to bring the game back on level pegging in his final game before the World Cup

Rodrigo Moreno scored a double to twice put his side back in front after Ben Davies had scored Tottenham’s second

Hugo Lloris was kept busy on a day where Leeds caused Tottenham’s defence many problems in a thrilling encounter

Aaronson found Summerville, who collected the pass with the outside of his right boot and held off the challenge of Dier before beating Hugo Lloris with a low shot with his left foot.

It was Summerville’s fourth goal in his last four games. For Spurs, it was an eighth successive game conceding the first goal.

Royal skied a glorious chance as Spurs summoned a reaction. Unmarked and only 10 yards out, the Brazilian’s effort was wild and wasteful after a fine run and cross by Ben Davies, and Spurs could easily have slipped two behind when Summerville sprinted clear again only to be foiled by Lloris.

Tottenham’s equaliser looked like a foul on goalkeeper Illan Meslier, charged by Celement Lenglet as he jumped to punch a corner. 

Meslier landed in a heap in his own net and his punched clearance fell to Kane, who reacted skilfully to beat Tyler Adams and find the net.

Leeds were incensed. They surrounded ref Michael Salisbury with their protest and Jesse Marsch raged in his technical area but there was no intervention from VAR Paul Tierney. 

Kane celebrated his 12th Premier League goal of the season.

The visitors took the lead again, two minutes before half time. This time it was Spurs trying to defend a corner. 

It was cleared but headed back at them by Liam Cooper and helped on by Rasmus Kristensen, then, with Dier playing him onside, swept past Lloris on the half volley by Rodrigo.

Conte’s players were booed down the tunnel at half-time, just as they were on their previous home appearance when beaten by Liverpool but the game was wide open and chaotic, as games involving Leeds often are.

Davies hauled Tottenham level again, six minutes into the second half. Kulusevski picked up the ball from a throw-in, muscled his way to the bye line and cut a pass low towards Kane, whose attempt struck Kristensen and rebounded to Davies.

His connection was crisp but it was still a surprise to see the ball somehow evade the barrier formed by Kristensen and goalkeeper Meslier and spin over the line.

Conte made changes to alter his defence and replaced Richarlison with Yves Bissouma, but his team conceded a third, Rodrigo’s second of the game and a fabulous finish.

Again, there was the mandatory dispute, with Tottenham’s head of football Fabio Paratici and Richarlison leading an appeal party to fourth official Graham Scott. They claimed a foul by Tyler Adams on Bentancur as he passed the ball to Kulusevski.

Cooper nipped ahead of Kulusevski to win possession and launch the move that ended with Rodrido beating Davinson Sanchez and lashing a fierce low drive past Lloris from an angle, but the goal stood and it was the third time Leeds had taken the lead.

Enter Bentancur, the Uruguayan midfielder who has been in excellent form in recent weeks but seldom carries a goal threat. He has now scored four in six games. And these were crucial for Conte.

A pair of goals from midfielder Bentancur just minutes apart put Spurs in the lead for the first time in the match late on

With Spurs ahead, Leeds went down to 10 as Tyler Adams was sent off for a second bookable offence in the closing stages

Tottenham star Son Heung-min was in attendance to celebrate with his team-mates despite his recent injury

Gareth Southgate will be relieved that England captain Kane went unscathed despite the playing duration against Leeds