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Tottenham overcame a nervous start to triumph 5-2 against Southampton on Sunday afternoon and claim their first Premier League win of the 2020-21 season.
The visiting team was left behind in the first half when Danny Ings expertly converted from a tight angle. Although the Saints created a number of opportunities, it was the Spurs who scored just before the break, and Son Heung-Min shot home after a great job from Tanguy Ndombele. Son doubled his account almost immediately after the restart, overcoming the offside trap once again to the relief of the Spurs bench. With an hour to play, the Korean superstar completed his hat trick, a beautiful shirt, once again, from Harry Kane.
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Déjà vu scored just 10 minutes later when Kane and Son combined once again to gift the forward his fourth goal of the game. The English striker scored a goal of his own shortly after, before Ings scored a consolation penalty to round out a thrilling tie on the south coast. The result will be a much-needed boost for the Spurs, who register their first win of the new season after last weekend’s disappointing loss.
Positive
For the Spurs, the overwhelming positive will be the regularity with which Son was able to come in behind the Saints defense. He consistently made excellent forward runs, often wasted by bad passes. Kane, however, did not miss a beat. The two forwards bonded superbly, with the Englishman becoming a provider time and time again.
No matter how poorly the rest of the team is playing, José Mourinho knows he has two world-class forwards he can always trust.
Negative
Sometimes the Spurs could barely make a pass together. The plan from the start was clearly to hit the Saints at halftime and exploit Southampton’s high defensive line. Unfortunately for the Spurs, the first half was marked by persistent offside offenses by the three forwards, playing directly into the hands of the hosts. Son’s goal just before the half-time break was the first time that an attacking move was successfully completed, something they had been trying to do all along.
Manager rating out of 10
8 – At first, it seemed that Mourinho had been seriously wrong in his game plan. Southampton were firmly on top in the first half … until Son’s draw. From there, the plan to sink and punish the home side’s high line began to take shape, as demonstrated by Son’s second goal just minutes after the first. Giovani Lo Celso replaced Tanguy Ndombele at half-time, a change that also seemed to fit the game plan.
Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best, players submitted after 70 minutes get no rating)
GK: Hugo Lloris, 7 – At least it should have helped Ings’s effort, but overall, the captain seemed confident. His first reaction, save from Che Adams, was especially impressive.
DF Matt Doherty, 6 years old – He fought to move forward with the same conviction as before with the Wolves. Defensively, the Irishman also battled the crafty Moussa Djenepo.
DF Davinson Sánchez, 6 – The former Ajax player, a bit weaker of the two Spurs center-backs, was often slow to shut down the Southampton attackers. However, he improved in the second half.
DF Eric Dier, 6 years old His distribution was frustratingly whimsical, while the Englishman also seemed aloof against Ings’ brilliant starter. A mixed afternoon.
DF Ben Davies, 7 – He made a magnificent last minute block to deny Southampton a sure goal in the first half. However, like his sidekick partner, forward attack runs were very rare.
MF Harry Winks, 6 – The Englishman was a passenger at times, unable to stamp his authority on the game in any meaningful way.
MF Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, 7 – Back at his old club, he made a nice change to a Spurs midfield that didn’t work effectively from the start. Creatively, it wasn’t his best performance, but he couldn’t be blamed for his effort.
MF Tanguy Ndombele, 7 years old – The former Lyon midfielder was the architect of Son’s first game, showing excellent strength and determination in the process. Interestingly, he was substituted at halftime, presumably for tactical reasons.
MF Lucas Moura, 6 – A very quiet afternoon from the Brazilian, even when Son and Kane were shining. Playing from the right side of an attacking three didn’t seem to suit her.
Son of FW Heung-Min, 10 – An impressive performance by Man of the Match. He scored a remarkable foursome of goals in a game in which Spurs were slow to get going, again highlighting how valuable he is to José Mourinho.
DEL Harry Kane, 9 – Four scandalous assists, worthy of former Spurs playmaker Christian Eriksen, were wonderfully rounded off by the one-goal forward. He showed that he is much more than a scorer.
Substitutes
MF Giovani Lo Celso, 7 – After the Argentine’s introduction, the Spurs looked much more comfortable in central midfield.
FROM Erik Lamela, 7 – He looked strong, adding to Tottenham’s overall threat at halftime.
FW Steven Bergwijn, N / A – It came too late to have a significant impact.
