Stoke City fights back to overturn 2-goal deficit, earn draw at White Hart Lane

The stage was set for a comfortable home opener at White Hart Lane as Tottenham took on Stoke City, and, for the most part, Spurs enjoyed a storybook start to the game. Up 2-0 well into the second half, Tottenham looked comfortable and three points were all but assured.

But Stoke would have none of that, fighting back for a 2-2 draw and leaving London in fine spirits as Tottenham fans were left wanting for more.

Tottenham opened the scoring in the first half courtesy of a well-placed header by 21-year-old midfielder Eric Dier. Christian Eriksen took a corner kick in the 19th minute, swinging the ball into the box and finding Dier, who was being marked by Marco van Ginkel.

Dier connected with the ball at pace, and while Stoke 'keeper Jack Butland got a hand on the ball, he couldn't palm it out, giving Spurs a 1-0 lead.

Stoke forward Mame Diouf nearly found an equalizer with a header in the last minute of the first half, but his effort was saved at close-range by Hugo Lloris. It would be the first of a handful of similar chances saved by the French goalkeeper throughout the match.

Tottenham doubled its lead at the stroke of half-time when Harry Kane picked out Ben Davies with a chipped through pass. Davies controlled the ball well and crossed into the box, where Nacer Chadli hit the ball hard with a volley. A deflection off a Stoke defender beat the goalkeeper for a 2-0 lead to the home team.

In an unorthodox move, Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino took Kane out of the match on the hour mark, bringing on Erik Lamela in his stead. Stoke grew in confidence as Diouf and Marko Arnautovic created chance after chance, but Lloris kept the visitors off the score sheet with a series of big saves.

But, in the 78th minute, Toby Alderweireld failed to contain Stoke attacker Joselu, conceding a penalty. Arnautovic stepped up to the spot and buried home the penalty, cutting Spurs' lead to 2-1.

Minutes later, Diouf finally found the goal he had been sniffing for, when substitute Stephen Ireland sent in a curling cross behind Tottenham's defensive line. Diouf's glancing header sneaked past Lloris, giving Stoke the equalizer at White Hart Lane.

Diouf's goal would be the last of the match as Spurs and Stoke split the points at White Hart Lane, 2-2 the final score.