Leeds, Leicester City relegated from Premier League
Football
By
Associated Press
| May 29, 2023
Leeds' three-season stay in the Premier League is over after a 4-1 home defeat to Tottenham confirmed the team's relegation on Sunday.
Harry Kane and Pedro Porro scored early in each half to put Spurs 2-0 ahead and, although Jack Harrison reduced the deficit, Kane struck a game-clinching second in what could be his last game for the London club.
Tottenham substitute Lucas Moura sliced through a porous defense in stoppage time to complete the misery for Leeds, which ultimately would have gone down even with a win at Elland Road.
Leeds went into the final day needing not only victory but for relegation rivals Everton and Leicester to drop points. Since they both won, Leeds' 21st league defeat of the season was immaterial and home fans vented their frustration and anger after the final whistle sounded.
Tottenham finished in eighth place and missed out on qualification for European competition next season.
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Leeds has not kept a clean sheet since February and its hopes of doing so on Sunday were extinguished in just the second minute.
The ease with which Porro and Son Heung-min combined to carve open the defense typified Leeds' season, with Kane finding space to provide a finish.
Leeds fans responded to Kane's 29th league goal of the season with raucous defiance, chanting "We're going down."
Leeds' players rallied and did their best to give something back to the Elland Road faithful, with Robin Koch spurning their best chance when heading wayward from in front of goal from Rodrigo's cross before Pascal Struijk's shot was deflected for a corner.
Leicester
Leicester City was relegated from the Premier League on Sunday despite ending the season with a 2-1 win against West Ham.
Everton's 1-0 victory against Bournemouth at Goodison Park meant there was nothing the 2016 league champion could do to avoid the drop.
Dean Smith's side had sparked hope it could mount a dramatic survival bid after Harvey Barnes struck in the 34th minute.
With Everton drawing 0-0 at the time, Leicester temporarily climbed out of the bottom three on goal difference, prompting wild celebrations inside the King Power.
But when news began to filter through that Abdoulaye Doucoure had put Everton ahead in the second half, the energy was sucked out of the stadium.
Wout Faes headed in a second for the home team in the 62nd, but Leicester's fortunes were dependent on what was happening on Merseyside.
By the time Pablo Fornals pulled one back for West Ham in the 79th, it mattered little on the day or for the season overall.
On a day of high drama, Leicester fans were tormented by rumors that Bournemouth had scored, sparking ripples of celebrations before reality hit.
Starting the day in the relegation zone, Leicester knew it had to win to stand any chance of survival - and even then, needed Everton to drop points.
A superior goal difference to the Merseyside club meant a victory would see it stay up even if Everton drew.