Tottenham Hotspur 1
Crystal Palace 0
Son 68’
Man of the match Son Heung-min
LONDON // Son Heung-min’s first Premier League goal earned Tottenham Hotspur victory over Crystal Palace on Sunday.
South Korea international Son struck in the 68th minute at White Hart Lane, moments after Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris had tipped a shot from Bakary Sako onto the post at the other end, to give the hosts a 1-0 win.
Son has now scored three goals in two games, after his debut double against Qarabag of Azerbaijan in the Europa League, and Tottenham coach Mauricio Pochettino hailed his impact.
“When you sign players you expect them to make a big impact in the team. We are very happy with him,” said the Argentine.
“He has adapted to the team very well. After scoring twice in the Europa League he scored again and when you arrive at the club as a striker, that’s very good.”
It was Tottenham’s first home win of the campaign and lifted Pochettino’s side to ninth place in the table, below Alan Pardew’s Palace on goal difference.
Son, 23, signed from German club Bayer Leverkusen for £18 million (Dh102.7m), was given a standing ovation by Tottenham’s fans when he was substituted in the 78th minute and he said his first weeks in England could not have gone any better.
“I’m very happy because we won the first home game and I scored my first Premier League goal. I hope every week is like this,” Son told Sky Sports.
Son has had no trouble adapting to the unique demands of English football and said he is relishing the league’s combination of pace and power as it suits his whole-hearted game.
“It’s amazing (to play in the Premier League), a really different style to the Bundesliga, more power and speed. I like this and am happy to play,” he added.
Pochettino made five changes to the side which beat Qarabag, including a return for Harry Kane after the out-of-form England striker was rested for the Europa League tie.
Kane’s presence up front meant Son moved into a deeper role, but he was no less effective as he roamed menacingly across Tottenham’s attacking midfield trio.
Kane, without a club goal this season, had not scored at White Hart Lane since March and the youngster’s lack of confidence was clear to see when he headed over from a corner in the opening minutes.
While Kane struggles to find his peak form, teenage midfielder Dele Alli has burst into the Tottenham team in the vibrant manner that his teammate did last season.
Alli, 19, was a blur of energy and enthusiasm when he won a sliding tackle and powered forward to pick out Erik Lamela.
Lamela cleverly worked space for a fierce shot that Palace goalkeeper Alex McCarthy could not hold, but Kane was not able to react quickly enough to convert the rebound.
Alli flashed his potential again with a stinging drive from the edge of the penalty area that McCarthy parried out to Kane, who again lost his composure as he drove the loose ball wide from a tight angle.
Palace, who had won both their previous away games including a stunning success at Chelsea, began to threaten with some incisive counter-attacks and Tottenham keeper Hugo Lloris was forced into action to repel Bakary Sako’s curling free-kick.
Alan Pardew’s team went even closer just before half time through French midfielder Yohan Cabaye, who unloaded a swerving strike that cannoned off the far post with Lloris beaten.
But Pochettino’s side regained the upper hand in the second half, with Son setting the tone as he closed down McCarthy tenaciously before the Palace keeper tipped over Lamela’s dipping free-kick.
Ben Davies thought he had put Tottenham ahead in the 57th minute when the defender nodded home after Son’s cross-shot was saved by McCarthy, but the goal was disallowed as Kane was clearly offside.
Tottenham remained vulnerable at the back and Lloris produced a superb one-handed save from Sako’s effort after the Palace forward was left in space at the far post.
That proved the turning point as Tottenham took the lead moments later in the 68th minute when substitute Christen Eriksen slipped a pass to Son, who accelerated away from Brede Hangeland and Kelly Marti before hitting a low strike just powerful enough to beat McCarthy through his legs.
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