Tottenham 2 Brighton 1
Spurs welcomed Brighton to North London with the visitors looking to complete the double over Ange Postecoglou’s side for the first time. The hosts were able to welcome back captain Son Heung-min back after South Korea were eliminated from the Asian Cup.
The game was preluded by a rendition of ‘Oh When the Spurs’ on the bugle in the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. An apt way to start the match with the hosts still dreaming of one day winning the title, which last happened when Allied troops were going over the top in Belgium accompanied by such instruments.
The Seagulls almost got off to the perfect start as Welbeck dispossessed van de Ven on the halfway line. With acres of space ahead, he darted into the box, performing a neat turn to sell the defender a dummy before shifting the ball onto his left foot and trying to bend one in the far corner.
Vicario made a fantastic save at full stretch to tip the effort around the post. Tottenham’s lacklustre defending continued as they gave the ball away with Welbeck and Buonanotte exchanging a one-two before the striker turned van de Ven, with the defender scything the Brighton player down.
Credit: @premierleague
The referee did not hesitate in pointing to the spot, despite the hosts trying to sway his decision. Gross stepped up to the spot after a VAR review to drill the ball in the corner with Spurs’ keeper going the opposite way.
Postecoglou’s side looked for an instant reply as Richarlison was played clean through by Maddison. With only the keeper to beat, the in-form striker’s shot was well blocked by Steele and as Kulusevski followed up Estupinan hacked the ball clear.
The Brazilian then returned the favour for Maddison, who shifted the ball onto his right foot as he looked to bend a shot into the top corner. Fortunately for the visitors, the Tottenham playmaker did not have his eye in just yet, as the effort narrowly missed the far post.
Brighton were causing all sorts of problems for the hosts in defence and as they seized on a poor pass from the keeper, Lallana slotted in Mitoma. Despite the tight angle, he got his shot away and Vicario made another good save to make up for his error to deny the visitors.
Richarlison was in confident mood and linking play well up front. He laid the ball off to Kulusevski who managed to get a shot away, despite falling to the ground, forcing a good stop from Steele for The Seagulls’. The only surprise at half-time was that this game had seen only one goal.
After the interval, Tottenham continued to press for an equaliser. Werner cut inside from the left wing and shot from the edge of the box, with his effort narrowly missing the far post and had Steele scrambling across his goal.
Credit: @SpursOfficial
The German is still searching for his first goal in a Tottenham shirt as he tries to impress during his loan spell to make fans forget all about his Chelsea stint. That had proved about as successful as Operation Sea Lion.
With an hour gone in the game, Postecoglou’s side were still searching for a goal when Sarr was found in the box. He looked to cross but Dunk deflected it onto the post and the Tottenham midfielder passed the rebound into the net with Steele still on the floor.
Son came off the bench for the hosts and looked like he had never been away as he ran through the middle. He spotted Johnson in space and the Welshman’s shot was easily saved by Steele once again for Brighton. The keeper was frustrating many in North London.
On a rare counter-attack in the second half, Mitoma got away from Porro and picked out Fati on the edge of the six yard box. He looked to place it in the far corner but the shot narrowly missed the far post when the Spanish international should have really scored.
As is the way in football, Brighton paid the ultimate price deep into added time. Son got down the left wing and picked out Johnson at the back post who swept the ball home to almost lift the roof off the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
With the last kick of the game, Spurs sealed all three points to help their ambitions to ensure they get Champions League qualification for next season. Brighton will feel they could have got so much more on the day with Roberto De Zerbi missing from the touchline for the game.
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