Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Brighton & Hove Albion: Son Heung-min and Harry Kane give hosts win
Brighton #Brighton
Son has scored 100 goals in 260 Premier League games
Son Heung-min scored his 100th Premier League goal and Harry Kane a second-half winner as Tottenham rode their luck to beat Brighton.
The visitors dominated large periods, and had two goals ruled out for handball, but the strikes from Spurs’ esteemed pair eased their recent struggles.
Son curled a superb 25-yard strike inside the far post after 10 minutes while Kane’s shot in the 79th minute deflected past Brighton keeper Jason Steele.
Lewis Dunk had earlier levelled in the first half for Brighton – heading in Solly March’s corner unchallenged at the back post – shortly after Kaoru Mitoma was judged to have controlled with his upper arm before converting.
The Seagulls had the ball in the net again in the second half but Danny Welbeck’s shot flicked Alexis Mac Allister’s arm on the way in and the goal was disallowed by the video assistant referee.
VAR also turned down strong penalty appeals from Brighton with the score 1-1 when Mitoma went down under a challenge from Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
The match became increasingly fractious and both managers – Brighton’s Roberto de Zerbi and Spurs interim Cristian Stellini – were sent off in the second half after a melee between the two benches.
The win keeps Spurs within three points of the top four, although they have played a game more than fourth-placed Manchester United, while Brighton drop to seventh.
Son and Kane do it again
Son’s stunner was reminiscent of the South Korea international at his best and makes him the first Asian player to score 100 Premier League goals.
He cut inside from the left wing, nudged the ball out of his feet and whipped a right-footed shot perfectly inside the right-hand post.
“This was something that I dreamed for,” he said.
“I hope all the Asian players – especially in South Korea – look at this achievement and believe they can do it as well.
“I take a big responsibility to be a good example to help the young guys. I want them to believe an Asian player can do amazing things in the Premier League.”
With Kane also on the scoresheet with his 25th goal of the season you could be forgiven for thinking this was Spurs of old. In reality, it was anything but.
Brighton had more possession, the better chances – their expected goals total was 1.28 to Spurs’ 0.82 – and should have had a penalty.
When Stellini was sent off, seemingly a bystander in the tussle which resulted in him being dismissed, the home crowd were singing the name of former manager Mauricio Pochettino.
But however ugly Spurs’ second win in seven games in all competitions came, it will prove crucial if they are able to scrape into the Champions League again this season.
With Manchester United and Newcastle taking three points on Saturday, the north London club were at risk of being cut adrift. Instead, they remain in touch.
Brighton left to rue decisions
Brighton’s defeat was only their second in 16 matches in 2023
In contrast, this result will likely end Brighton’s hopes of a remarkable top-four finish. They are 10 points behind fourth, albeit with a game in hand, and have been overtaken by Aston Villa.
While Spurs’ attack was laboured, the Seagulls were bright again going forward, without creating a host of opportunities.
The two handball decisions were tough to take but probably correct.
Mitoma’s first contact seemed to be with his bicep as he controlled a chipped pass and volleyed in, while Mac Allister’s intervention on Welbeck’s shot clearly helped the ball squirm under Hugo Lloris, however unintentional.
More surprising was the decision not to give a penalty for Hojbjerg’s challenge on Mitoma, minutes before Kane’s winner.
As Mitoma controlled the ball in the box, Hojbjerg’s foot landed on top of the Japan international’s boot but referee Stuart Attwell was not asked to view the incident again by VAR, despite a review.
De Zerbi had already been dismissed by this stage. Given his arguments with the Spurs bench began before kick-off, it will have done little to lighten his mood.
Player of the match
DunkLewis Dunk
Brighton & Hove Albion
Squad number5Player nameDunk
Squad number22Player nameMitoma
Squad number10Player nameMac Allister
Squad number7Player nameMarch
Squad number25Player nameCaicedo
Squad number30Player nameEstupiñán
Squad number18Player nameWelbeck
Squad number13Player nameGroß
Squad number6Player nameColwill
Squad number23Player nameSteele
Squad number34Player nameVeltman
Squad number28Player nameFerguson
Squad number4Player nameWebster
Squad number20Player nameEnciso
Line-upsTottenham
Formation 3-4-2-1
1Lloris
17Romero15Dier34Lenglet
23Porro5Højbjerg4Skipp14Perisic
21Kulusevski7Son Heung-min
10Kane
Substitutes
Brighton
Formation 4-2-3-1
23Steele
34Veltman5Dunk6Colwill30Estupiñán
13Groß25Caicedo
7March10Mac Allister22Mitoma
18Welbeck
Substitutes
Live Text
Match ends, Tottenham Hotspur 2, Brighton and Hove Albion 1.
Second Half ends, Tottenham Hotspur 2, Brighton and Hove Albion 1.
Attempt missed. Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton and Hove Albion) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Solly March with a cross.
Attempt blocked. Alexis Mac Allister (Brighton and Hove Albion) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Lewis Dunk with a cross.
Foul by Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton and Hove Albion).
Son Heung-Min (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Japhet Tanganga replaces Ivan Perisic.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur) is shown the yellow card.
Foul by Moisés Caicedo (Brighton and Hove Albion).
Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt blocked. Julio Enciso (Brighton and Hove Albion) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Solly March with a cross.
Foul by Julio Enciso (Brighton and Hove Albion).
Pedro Porro (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Pape Sarr replaces Oliver Skipp.
Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (Tottenham Hotspur) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Alexis Mac Allister (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (Tottenham Hotspur).
Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Julio Enciso replaces Joël Veltman.
Alexis Mac Allister (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
