Tottenham were presented with a chance to apply huge pressure to West Ham United in the race to avoid relegation from the Premier League after the Hammers’ controversial loss at home to Arsenal on Sunday.
And when Mathys Tel put them ahead with a spectacular finish, Spurs looked on course to open up a four-point gap that would have put them close to safety.
Instead, Tel’s reckless attempt at an overhead kick in his own penalty area gave away a needless penalty, which Dominic Calvert-Lewin put away emphatically.
Spurs pressed in a frantic finale, but they were grateful to keeper Antonin Kinsky, who had saved superbly from Joe Rodon in the first half, for a stunning reaction stop to turn a shot from a disbelieving Sean Longstaff on to the bar.
It reflected great credit on the character of the young keeper, who suffered the ignominy of being taken off after only 17 minutes after two early mistakes in the Champions League last-16 game away to Atletico Madrid in March.
In the final reckoning, the keeper whose Spurs career looked in jeopardy when he was hauled of by then-head coach Igor Tudor, may have made a significant contribution to keep his side in the Premier League.
One huge positive was the return of James Maddison for his first action since a serious knee injury suffered in pre-season. He looked sharp and thought he had won a late penalty when he went down under challenge from Lukas Nmecha.
The fact it was not given only added to Spurs frustration as their relegation fears continue.