Dempsey's Last Tottenham Goal

On This Day in 2013, the American's Contribution Kept Tottenham's Champions League Dreams Alive, For Now

Following his heroic but ultimately heartbreaking performance against Basel in April 2013, Clint Dempsey found himself at a crossroads with Tottenham Hotspur. The disappointment of European elimination lingered, but the Premier League campaign demanded his immediate refocus. Dempsey's response was swift and emphatic, scoring in a crucial 3-1 victory over Manchester City on April 21, just ten days after the Basel defeat. This goal launched Spurs' unbeaten run as they desperately chased a coveted Champions League spot.

By mid-May, with three matches remaining in their season, Tottenham found themselves in a familiar position—chasing Arsenal for fourth place. After consecutive draws against Wigan and Chelsea, their visit to the Britannia Stadium on May 12 became nothing short of essential. The match coincided with Stoke City's 150th anniversary celebrations, with club legends like Gordon Banks and Sir Geoff Hurst in attendance, adding another layer of difficulty to Tottenham's challenge.

When Steven Nzonzi headed home Charlie Adam's free-kick in just the third minute, the celebratory atmosphere at the Britannia Stadium threatened to extinguish Tottenham's Champions League aspirations. Spurs needed an immediate response, and Dempsey delivered once again.

In the 20th minute, opportunity presented itself through misfortune, not for the first time in Dempsey's career. Scott Parker's seemingly innocuous pass confused Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic and defender Marc Wilson. As the ball spilled loose, Dempsey reacted with characteristic opportunism, lobbing the ball into an empty net from 30 yards out. It was a goal that epitomized his career, born from relentless positioning, quick thinking, and technical execution when it mattered most.

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The goal shifted momentum dramatically. When Charlie Adam received a second yellow card early in the second half, Tottenham seized control of the match. Dempsey's influence grew beyond his equalizer as he turned provider for Emmanuel Adebayor's 83rd-minute winner. After receiving the ball with space to attack, Dempsey drove forward and slid a perfectly weighted pass across the goal for Adebayor to tap home. The American's ability to both score and create proved decisive.

"What we did was we kept the patience," manager André Villas-Boas remarked afterward. "It would have been very easy for us to lump it forward. We were rewarded in the end for that patience."

For Dempsey, the performance at Stoke continued his reputation as Tottenham's reliable presence in crucial moments. The Guardian named him Man of the Match, noting how his goal-and-assist combination "kept Tottenham's party plans on track." The victory moved Spurs temporarily into fourth place and maintained pressure on Arsenal in the fight for Champions League qualification.

Despite Tottenham's final-day victory over Sunderland—sealed by another Gareth Bale special—Arsenal's win at Newcastle consigned Spurs to fifth place and Europa League football again. Their 72-point total became their highest in the Premier League era (now third), yet it is still insufficient for Champions League qualification.

For Dempsey, attention quickly turned to international duty with the United States national team. In a friendly against Belgium just weeks after the Premier League season concluded, Dempsey scored from the penalty spot in a 4-2 defeat. This goal continued his ascent in the American record books, putting him one goal behind Eric Wynalda to become the second-highest goalscorer in U.S. men's national team history.

While most of his Tottenham teammates prepared for summer breaks, Dempsey's exclusion from Jurgen Klinsmann's preliminary Gold Cup roster suggested a summer of rest before returning to North London, though a move could be on the horizon.