London: Tottenham scored three times in a swaggering six-minute spell to end a 15-year winless run at home to Manchester United on Sunday, grabbing an impressive 3-0 victory that maintained their pursuit of Premier League leader Leicester.
But with Leicester seven points in front after beating Sunderland earlier Sunday, ending the drought was more significant for second-place Tottenham's bid to qualify for the Champions League for only the second time.
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino hasn't fully given up on delivering the London club's first title since 1961.
"It was important for us after the Leicester game to show character and maturity," Pochettino said. "We sent a message we are there, waiting and fighting. And if they fail we need to stay there. Seven points is a difficult gap to reduce but we have to believe."
United's capitulation from the 70th minute — conceding goals from Dele Alli, Toby Alderweireld and Erik Lamela — was a major setback for Louis van Gaal's quest to make the top four.
Manchester City are now four points ahead of neighbor United in the fourth and final Champions League place.
The goal flurry came when the game should have been over. It started 30 minutes late at White Hart Lane because United was stuck in traffic traveling by bus from central to north London.
But it was lethargic Tottenham stuck in first gear as the game eventually kicked off, with United motoring forward to apply early pressure.
The atmosphere was subdued as Tottenham could find no way to enter United territory until the 17th when David De Gea thwarted Harry Kane from close range.
The hosts intensified the pressure but De Gea was proving hard to beat.
Lamela wastefully missed the target with a header after being picked out precisely by Christian Eriksen. There was another agonizing moment for Tottenham just before half time when Eriksen floated in a free kick and Erik Dier couldn't make a clean connection in front of goal.
Still, United had a chance to take the lead on the hour when Anthony Martial rampaged down the left flank and cut inside only to see his shot parried by Hugo Lloris.
United never came close again. Ten minutes later, the visitors were ruthlessly ripped apart.
Kane worked hard on the ground to seize possession around the halfway line and then fed the ball to Eriksen. The midfielder crossed into the path of Alli, who evaded Daley Blind to put Tottenham in front.
De Gea was beaten again in the 74th, with Alderweireld meeting Lamela's free kick with a header. And Lamela swept the ball into the net six minutes and 46 seconds after Alli's opener as United's defense was run ragged.
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