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At half-time, Heung-min was the final player to leave the field at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. He was not occupied with displaying his team’s emblem, entertaining the audience, or secretly criticizing the referee. Instead, he was fatigued and had to take a brief moment to recuperate by bending over with his hands on his knees in the Newcastle penalty box.
Son received the ball at the halfway mark with only two minutes left in the first half. He then accelerated with impressive speed, his feet pounding the ground like a boxer hitting a speed bag. It is quite uncommon to witness a player outrunning their opponents while maintaining control of the ball, dribbling at a pace faster than most people can run.
Lewis Miley is a skilled player, but Son quickly advanced, covering 40 yards with the ball and making a cross pass that almost resulted in a goal for Richarlison. By that point, Spurs were leading 2-0. Son had created both goals while playing in a new position on the left wing, causing trouble for Kieran Trippier throughout the intense first half.
Skipping ahead to the 83rd minute, Son was seen quickly moving through the center of the field, now playing as a nimble No 9. Martin Dubravka fouled him, leading to a penalty kick for Son, who confidently placed the ball into the corner of the net, bringing the score to 4-0 in favor of Spurs. The game would ultimately end with a final score of 4-1 in favor of Spurs.
Let’s focus on the statistics. Currently at the age of 31, Son has been playing for Tottenham for nine years. With his recent goal and four assists in the league, he has reached a total of 10 goals this season. He is also nearing 400 games, which is a record for any non-British player in the club’s history, second only to Chris Hughton. This marks a significant era for Son.
After losing to West Ham, Son was unusually straightforward, pointing out the lack of success in Spurs’ offense. He displayed anger in his performance, continuously pushing forward as Tottenham recorded 23 shots compared to Newcastle’s eight.
The visitors had some factors that lessened the impact, one of which being the exhaustion of the entire team. However, the decision to place Son as a traditional left-winger was crucial in changing the dynamics of the game during the critical first half.
This is a lesser-known aspect of contemporary team strategy. While a wing player may have his opponent on the defensive, traditional tactics would suggest exploiting this by frequently passing the ball to that side and taking advantage of the weak spot. However, modern teams tend to adhere to their rehearsed patterns instead.
It may take up to twenty minutes for another chance to arise to fully capitalize on the situation. It is not common for full-backs to be completely outplayed, but in this instance, Trippier was outplayed as Ange Postecoglou strategically placed Dejan Kulusevski as a central attacking midfielder and kept Son on the left side of the field.
At the start of the game, the stadium was a beautiful sight. The large industrial roof created an ink-like backdrop against the dark sky. The shining cock above the home team’s section was dramatic, resembling Batman’s iconic symbol.
The Spurs dominated the beginning of the match and found the back of the net after 26 minutes. Son created the goal by skillfully dribbling from the left touchline, cutting right then left, and delivering a precise pass into the six-yard box. Surprisingly, it was Destiny Udogie, known for being the least conventional full-back, who was in position to score his first goal for the Spurs.
The second goal was also scored by Son, who received a long diagonal pass that lightly touched Trippier’s head. He then zigzagged around, anticipating Trippier to stumble, before accelerating towards the center and passing the ball back for Richarlison to successfully score.
In the second half, Newcastle changed their strategy and became more assertive in their attempts to stop Son by pressuring Miley and Trippier to get close to him and cut off the areas he had exploited in the first half. However, Tottenham continued to play with an attacking mindset, quickly pushing forward whenever they regained control of the ball.
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During the game, Jamaal Lascelles received a booking for grabbing onto the back of Son’s shirt with one hand while chasing him near the center of the field. He followed behind Son, resembling Marty McFly hitching a ride on a hoverboard.
Shortly after, the score became 3-0 thanks to a superbly executed diagonal pass from Pedro Porro, which was then successfully finished by Richarlison.
Spurs’ victory places them in fifth position, which seems appropriate. More importantly, it marks the end of a terrible streak. There has been some frustration and backlash towards the positive atmosphere surrounding the team, with comparisons being drawn to Woodstock. In football, it seems that being likable is not always well-received. How does this person manage to appear content and calm, instead of tortured or angry?
However, credit must be given to Postecoglou for the team’s performance, which was also influenced by a small tactical adjustment. This moment highlights the skills of a coach who is operating at a higher level than any previous point in his career.
The current state of the Premier League is extremely competitive. Do you simply charge towards the challenge, take a risk, and not give in, even if giving in could be a wise decision?
The most motivating aspect of this victory, similar to the result at Etihad Stadium, will be the feeling of adaptability.
Source: theguardian.com
