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He did not live up to the moment when Gareth Bale came off the bench to put Real Madrid on the path to Champions League glory with that aerial kick against Liverpool in 2018. It was a precious moment for the Welshman, however. . Released in the 70th minute and ordered to damage Brighton’s stamina, Bale produced the defining moment three minutes later, leaping to score for the first time since returning to Tottenham.
The beaming smile on Bale’s face said it all. After the severance of his relationship with Madrid, he was finally home: back in Tottenham colors and providing moments of class when his team needed him. Tottenham had worked. They had given up another lead and were heading for another draw at home. In the end, however, a substitute took them to second place, two points behind Liverpool and dreaming of a title challenge.
This was a huge victory for Spurs, whose substitutes had disappointed during an insipid defeat to Antwerp in the Europa League. The regulars returned and for 15 minutes Mourinho’s team threatened to fly to Brighton, working as a cohesive unit, hunting in packs before launching a series of dangerous forays.
The main threat came from the left, where Tanguy Ndombele and Sergio Reguilón helped Son Heung-min to upset Tariq Lamptey. A clever sixth-minute trade ended with Reguilón testing Robert Sánchez, a 22-year-old Spaniard who delivered his first Premier League start in goal for Brighton after replacing Mat Ryan, and it didn’t take long for the visitors to crack.
Came from another blast down the left, They are freed by a chip from Pierre Emile-Hojbjerg. Son spun at the start line and, although his cross was pushed aside, Graham Scott blew his whistle as Adam Lallana stormed Harry Kane at the edge of the area.
The Tottenham captain welcomed the contact and Brighton’s heart sank once a VAR review revealed the foul had taken place at the 18th yard. Scott had no choice but to mark the spot and Kane stepped forward to send. to Sánchez the wrong way.
A beating seemed to be on the cards. Instead, Brighton began to play.
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Lamptey began to see more of the ball, advancing from the right side, earning praise from his teammates as he forced Reguilón to fall deeper.
Brighton was an intriguing proposition: well-trained, technically competent, tactically flexible. But for a while it seemed that Tottenham could keep them at bay, especially since Leandro Trossard was stationed alone up front due to Neal Maupay’s absence.
However, there were caveats for Mourinho’s players. Midway through the first half, Ben White, who drew attention in midfield for Brighton after coming out of central defense, slipped a clever pass into the box and Trossard fell after being thrown by Matt Doherty. Graham Potter, whose team has won once in seven games, was surprised that Brighton did not receive a penalty after another review.
Brighton refused to be discouraged. The tie came when Pascal Gross released Lamptey, who managed a skillful shot past Hugo Lloris. This time the technology worked in Brighton’s favor. Scott looked at the court monitor and decided that Solly March had not fouled Hojbjerg in preparation.
Tottenham moved. Erik Lamela hit the post from 25 yards and Sánchez, on loan at Rochdale last season, somehow prevented Joël Veltman from scoring an own goal after the rebound bounced off the Brighton center. Then Kane managed to hit the post from close range.
Mourinho had seen enough, putting Bale in Lamela’s place. In the 73rd minute, Bale hit the pitch by heading a cross from another Madrid player, Reguilón.
Tottenham, relieved, finally achieved a victory at home.
