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September 21, 2020

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Spurs’ Son-Kane duo sink Saints

Son Heung-min scored four goals set up by Harry Kane as Tottenham Hotspur came from a goal down to overwhelm Southampton 5-2 yesterday and earn its first English Premier League win of the season.

In an action-packed first half at St Mary’s, both sides had a goal ruled out by video assistant referee before Danny Ings finished well from a tight angle in the 32nd minute to put Southampton ahead.

The hosts deserved their lead and had chances to add a second before Son, with Spurs’ first shot at goal, latched onto a fine first-time pass from Kane before equalizing in first-half stoppage time.

That same combination unlocked the hosts two minutes after the break, with Son taking advantage of a high Saints defensive line before racing clear to score.

Son’s first EPL hat-trick was completed in the 64th before Kane set him up again with a sublime pass 17 minutes from time.

It was the first time one player has assisted another’s EPL hat-trick since 2003, when Thierry Henry set up Freddie Ljungberg’s treble for Arsenal against Sunderland.

Kane himself completed the rout with a close-range finish before Ings grabbed a late Southampton consolation from the penalty spot.

“It is incredible to score four in the Premier League,” Son said. “Four amazing assists from Harry, he deserves the man of the match award.

“We have been working for five seasons together now. We know what we like and work hard on our relationship on and off the pitch. Hopefully, there are many more goals to come.”

The scoreline flattered Tottenham, which only had five shots on target — two less than Southampton — but its clinical finishing made all the difference.

It is now three defeats from three in all competitions for Saints this season.

“It is hard to take,” Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuettl said. “At the beginning we were very good. Our heads dropped after their goal in the first half and we gave in too easy. The opponent was not pressured on the ball at all — the defending was a disaster.”

In the day’s second match, Brighton and Hove Albion got its EPL season up and running with a clinical 3-0 victory over Newcastle United at St James’ Park after an early brace by Neal Maupay.

The Frenchman put Brighton ahead from the penalty spot in the 4th when Allan Saint-Maximin brought down Tariq Lamptey after the teenage wing-back cut inside from and darted into the box.

Lamptey, 10 days shy of his 20th birthday, was also involved in Brighton’s second four minutes later, releasing Leandro Trossard down the right.

The Belgian fired in a low cross that Maupay slotted home from close range and though the goal was initially disallowed for an offside in the build-up, referee Kevin Friend overturned his decision after consulting the VAR.

The home side showed more fight after the restart and Callum Wilson spurned Newcastle’s best chance to cut the deficit when he headed over from close range in the 63rd after Brighton was caught trying to play out from the back.

It was the visitors, however, who extended their lead late on, when Aaron Connolly curled the ball home after being picked out inside the box by Maupay to complete a comfortable win for Brighton, which lost its opening game of the season to Chelsea, which was hosting Liverpool later.

The only blot for Brighton was a red card for midfielder Yves Bissouma in the 89th for catching Jamal Lewis in the face with a wild swing of his boot.




 

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