Bale and Sigurdsson Score as Tottenham Defeat New York Red Bulls

Tottenham recorded the first win of their tour in America, coming back after New York Red Bulls had taken an early lead to score twice in the second half for a deserved success.  The game started at a bright pace as both teams played out the match at a much more competitive level than either of the earlier tour games. Thierry Henry didn’t play for Red Bulls but Tim Cahill, their new signing from Everton who have just resigned Steven Pienaar, made his New York debut. Former Spurs player, Teemu Tainio, returning from injury, partnered Cahill in central midfield for the first half.

New York Red Bulls 1  Tottenham Hotspur 2

Scorers:

Team: Gomes; Walker (Naughton), Dawson, Vertonghen (Gallas), Assou-Ekotto (Bassong) ; Livermore (Carroll), Huddlestone (Jenas); Lennon (Smith) , Sigurdsson (Kaboul), Bentley (Kane); Bale (Townsend)

Both teams started quickly as Red Bulls worked hard, denying the Spurs’ defenders any time to play the ball out, immediately putting them under pressure. This unsettled Spurs in the early minutes as both teams looked for quick passing and movement but neither goalkeeper was troubled. Aaron Lennon had a good run and link up play with David Bentley and Benoit Assou-Ekotto which ended with Lennon putting in a cross which almost released Gylfi Sigurdsson in the Red Bulls box. Immediately Red Bulls counter-attacked with a pass from half-way which went over the defence, Tim Cahill got ahead of Jan Vertonghen and as they reached the penalty area the Belgium defender brought him down to concede a penalty. Cooper sent penalty Gomes the wrong way to give Red Bulls the lead after seven minutes.

After Red Bulls took the early lead, Tottenham gradually gained control and the Red Bulls goalkeeper had to be alert to keep them at bay as the home side defended in numbers with two banks of four in defence and midfield. Tottenham responded quickly and after ten minutes Bale broke on the left and delivered a cross but no-one had followed into the penalty area. Two minutes later, a free-kick by Bale was on target but was well saved by the goalkeeper for a corner. Lennon was lively on the right, running and taking on defenders. David Bentley had a shot blocked for a corner and then after fifteen minutes Tom Huddlestone dispossessed Red Bulls in midfield, played a one-two with Bale, to power in a shot which was well saved by the goalkeeper. From Sigurdsson’s corner, Bale headed the ball over.

Five minutes later, Lennon went on a run and flicked the ball back to Kyle Walker whose cross towards Bale was well defended for another corner. A cross by Bentley fell to Lennon who played it back for Walker but his shot went wide. Tottenham had recovered well after the goal but as the half ended were finding it difficult to break down the Red Bulls defence.

After the interval, William Gallas replaced Vertonghen, Harry Kane came on for Bentley and Jermaine Jenas came on for Huddlestone. Bale moved to the left with Kane as the lone striker. The match continued as previously but with Spurs dictating the tempo and after 53 minutes another save prevented Spurs from equalising as a cross by Bale came to Lennon whose first time shot was tipped over for a corner. With increasing Tottenham pressure, the home side were offering little threat but Spurs couldn’t find a way to make a breakthrough. Bale and Lennon changed wings and after 58 minutes, Kane got away but as he was about to cross the defender recovered to block it for a corner. From Sigurdsson’s corner, Bale rose to head in at the back post for a deserved equaliser.

Kyle Naughton and Tom Carroll replaced Walker and Jake Livermore respectively as Red Bulls replied with a run and cross on the right which was cleared by Michael Dawson. Kane and Carroll linked on the left with Carroll’s cross being deflected for a corner. A shot from the corner was cleared and then after 64 minutes, Sigurdsson collected the ball outside the penalty area and dribbled his way past defenders and shot across goal to put Spurs ahead.

Spurs had taken control of the second half and their play and passing was much more fluid as Red Bulls tired, struggling under Tottenham’s pressure. Dawson had the opportunity to add a third three minutes later when his rising shot from a corner hit the bar.

After 68 minutes, such was Tottenham’s dominance, that Gomes had his first action of the evening, coming confidently to catch a high cross. Spurs were untroubled in  the last ten minutes as more substitutions were made and in the final minutes Andros Townsend went on a couple of dangerous runs, the first ending with him looking for a penalty as he went down in the area.

Tottenham can be satisfied with the win and the way they recovered from the early set-back. The team returned to London immediately after the match and have a match at Watford on Sunday afternoon. There is still work to be done on Spurs defensive play as the early moments of this match showed when Red Bulls were most effective and most dangerous. It was an encouraging performance as players’ fitness improves with every match and Rafael Van der Vaart was involved in light training ahead of the match but it was decided not to play him against Red Bulls as a precautionary measure.

Twitteresque Report: Spurs recovered after early set back to control the match. Won with two second half goals from Bale and Sigurdsson. Improved performance.