Late goal hurts Tottenham's Premier League survival hopes and Chelsea loses to Man United

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Tottenham remains rooted inside the relegation zone. Chelsea is stuck outside the Champions League spots.

It was a disappointing Saturday for the two London giants in the Premier League, starting with Tottenham conceding an equalizer deep into stoppage time to draw 2-2 with Brighton.

That kept Spurs, ever-presents in England's top flight since 1978, in third-to-last place and in grave danger of relegation with five games left.

Chelsea then lost 1-0 at home to Manchester United in a showdown between teams fighting for a place in the top five and therefore Champions League qualification. Matheus Cunha scored the only goal.

While United strengthened its grip on third place, Chelsea stayed in sixth and is looking increasingly unlikely to get back into Europe's top competition next season. That would be a huge financial blow to Chelsea's American ownership which has spent heavily to build an underperforming playing squad.

Tottenham is still without a win in the Premier League in 2026 — a stretch of 15 matches. That's a remarkable run for one of the country's so-called “Big Six” which played in the Champions League this season as the reigning Europa League winner.

Yet Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi still believes his team is capable of winning all of its remaining games and staying up.

“Now it's difficult to hear my words,” he said, "but if you watch the players and analyze the level of the players, I think we can win five games in a row.

“Not to be arrogant because I am not arrogant, especially now, but we have the quality enough to fight and win games in a row.”

Georginio Rutter's late equalizer for Brighton at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium meant last-place Wolverhampton's impending relegation was put off for bit longer. However, Wolves are destined for the drop, with their 3-0 loss at Leeds meaning they are 15 points from safety with five matches remaining.

Xavi Simons looked as if he'd won the game for Tottenham when he cut inside and curled a finish into the top corner in the 77th minute, sparking joyous celebrations by newly hired manager Roberto De Zerbi. The Italian, formerly Brighton's manager, was taking charge of his second game and first at home.

Earlier, Pedro Porro gave Tottenham the lead with a 39th-minute header, before Kaoru Mitoma volleyed home an equalizer in first-half stoppage time.

Tottenham is a point behind West Ham, which visits Crystal Palace on Monday, and two behind Nottingham Forest, which hosts Burnley on Sunday.

Wolves have been in the Premier League for the past eight seasons but are now on the brink.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin converted a stoppage-time penalty to round off the win for Leeds after early goals by James Justin — with a bicycle kick — and Noah Okafor.

Leeds is eight points clear of the relegation zone.

Man United moved 10 points clear of Chelsea and looks certain to qualify for the Champions League after a big win sealed despite not having four center backs available.

Cunha converted a cut-back from Bruno Fernandes, who now has 18 assists for the campaign — two off the Premier League record held jointly by Kevin De Bruyne and Thierry Henry.

Chelsea was without Joao Pedro, who was injured in training this week, and lost Estevao to an injury midway through the first half.

Chelsea has lost its last three league games and five of its last six games in all competitions, piling the heat on inexperienced manager Liam Rosenior.

“At the moment, any small mistake we are making and the ball ends up in the back of our net,” Rosenior said, “and that has to change.”

Newcastle's players were jeered after a 2-1 home loss to Bournemouth, the team's third straight defeat in the Premier League.

It left Newcastle in 14th place in the 20-team top flight with five games remaining of the campaign and manager Eddie Howe under increasing pressure.

Adrien Truffert grabbed the winner in the 85th minute as eighth-place Bournemouth extended its unbeaten run to 13 straight league matches.

Brentford failed to boost its unlikely Champions League qualification hopes by drawing a fifth straight game in the Premier League, this time 0-0 at home to Fulham.

Brentford could have climbed above Chelsea, which plays Manchester United later, and into sixth place with a win but missed a slew of chances. Top scorer Igor Thiago hit the goal frame.

Ten years after winning the Premier League, Leicester looks to be heading to the third tier of English soccer.

A 1-0 loss at Portsmouth on Saturday left Leicester in second-to-last place in the Championship, eight points from safety with just three games left.

Wrexham, the Welsh club owned by Hollywood celebrities, moved just two points off the playoff places with a 2-0 win over Stoke.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Chelsea's Liam Delap, left, and Manchester United's Ayden Heaven challenge for the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Manchester United in London, Saturday, April 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Tottenham Hotspur's Pedro Porro appears dejected after the final whistle of an English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton and Hove Albion, Saturday, April 18, 2026, in London. (Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP)

Tottenham Hotspur's Xavi Simons, left, and Brighton and Hove Albion's Jan Paul van Hecke battle for the ball during their English Premier League soccer match in London, Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP)

Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola, left and Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe gesture, ahead of the English Premier League soccer match between Newcastle United and Bournemouth, in Newcastle, England, Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)

Leeds United's Dominic Calvert-Lewin celebrates after scoring their third goal of the game from the penalty spot during the English Premier League soccer match between Leeds United and Wolverhampton Wanderers, Saturday April 18, 2026, in Leeds, England. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)

Bournemouth's Adrien Truffert celebrates scoring their side's second goal of the game during the English Premier League soccer match between Newcastle United and AFC Bournemouth, Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Newcastle, England. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)

Fulham's Calvin Bassey, left, and Brentford's Dango Ouattara battle for the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Brentford and Fulham in Brentford, England, Saturday April 18, 2026. (John Walton/PA via AP)

Former Brentford and Tottenham manger Thomas Frank in the stands during the English Premier League soccer match between Brentford and Fulham in Brentford, England, Saturday, April 18, 2026. (John Walton/PA via AP)

Fulham's Sasa Lukic, left, and Brentford's Kevin Schade battle for the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Brentford and Fulham in Brentford, England, Saturday April 18, 2026. (John Walton/PA via AP)

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump is set to be the first sitting U.S. president to attend an NBA Finals game, bringing strict security measures that resulted in fans having to navigate an extensive safety perimeter around Madison Square Garden, with a lengthy wait expected to get into the building.

Long before Trump's arrival, the New York Police Department and the U.S. Secret Service put up barriers to restrict pedestrian and vehicular traffic in the area around the arena more than four hours before tipoff of Game 3 between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs. It was a scene more closely resembling New Year’s Eve in Times Square than the usual leadup to a basketball game.

With airport-level security expected, fans were asked to get to the game two hours early, required to provide a ticket or pass to get past various checkpoints, along with passing through a Transportation Security Administration-style magnetometer. Large crowds in the area included a long line to get in, even before the doors were open.

Trump’s appearance forced the cancellation of a watch party outside and the institution of a no-bag policy for ticket-holders. Fans had gathered near the arena to watch games during this playoff run, during which the Knicks have won 13 games in a row to reach the final for the first time since 1999 and move two victories from their first NBA title since 1973.

“The NYPD in coordination with the Secret Service made the decision for Game 3, where we have a presidential visit, that we could not support watch parties right outside of the Garden," Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a news conference Monday. "We are looking forward to bringing back watch parties for Game 4. But I think New Yorkers are used to presidents coming to town, and they understand that that generally means lockdowns of areas and that’s what you’re going to see tonight at the Garden.”

Trump has attended several major sporting events in his time as president, and the security measures have created major hassles for fans.

Thousands of fans missed the start of last year’s U.S. Open men’s singles final between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner because of lengthy security lines. Even though the U.S. Tennis Association pushed back the start of the match by a half-hour, many fans still couldn’t get in because added measures meant that they had to go through screening not only when they arrived at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center but again in front of the steps into Arthur Ashe Stadium, where Trump watched from a suite.

Asked his thoughts on Trump attending, Knicks center Mitchell Robinson said: “Cool, I guess. We can still get out there and play (no matter) who’s here and who’s not.”

Mayor Zohran Mamdani and other dignitaries are also expected to be at the game Monday night.

It was already hard enough for Knicks fans to get inside Madison Square Garden because of astronomical ticket prices. The get-in price for a ticket is higher than the average cost of monthly rent in New York, surging over $5,000. The best seats are tens of thousands of dollars. Mamdani said he bought his ticket, which he said was standing-room-only, for about $1,000 directly from Madison Square Garden.

The difficulty of seeing the game in-person has prompted fans to crowd bars, streets and watch parties all over the city. The watch party near the Garden has become a major event all through the playoffs, but with Trump attending, that event was moved a few blocks away outside the security perimeter, at Bryant Park.

“We improvise,” said Knicks guard Jose Alvarado, who is a New York native. "We're New Yorkers. We’re going to find a way to watch a game, and that’s what we’re doing.”

AP Basketball Writer Brian Mahoney contributed to this report.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

A Secret Service agent stands watch outside Madison Square Garden in New York, Monday, June 8, 2026, as President Donald Trump is set to attend Game 3 of the NBA Finals basketball series between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey)

Security fencing is set up outside of Madison Square Garden in New York, Monday, June 8, 2026, as President Donald Trump is set to attend Game 3 of the NBA Finals basketball series between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey)

Security is set up outside of Madison Square Garden in New York, Monday, June 8, 2026, as President Donald Trump is set to attend Game 3 of the NBA Finals basketball series between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey)

FILE - President Donald Trump, center, attends the men's singles final at the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Sept. 7, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)

A traveler tries to navigate the area as stringent security measures are set up outside of Madison Square Garden in New York, Monday, June 8, 2026, as President Donald Trump is set to attend Game 3 of the NBA Finals basketball series between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey)

FILE - Donald Trump, right, talks to an unidentified man from the stands at Madison Square Garden during the New York Knicks game against the Dallas Mavericks on Jan. 11, 2006, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)

President Donald Trump speaks at Custer Farms in Chippewa Falls, Wis., Friday, June 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Glen Stubbe)