Erik Lamela And Harry Kane Take Tottenham Past Brighton

Erik Lamela and Harry Kane scored two second half goals as Tottenham progressed to the 5th Round of the Capital One Cup, defeating Brighton and Hove Albion at White Hart Lane.

Tottenham Hotspur 2  Brighton and Hove Albion 0

Scorers: Lamela, Kane

Team: Vorm, Naughton, Fazio, Vertonghen, Davies; Dembele, Stambouli; Lennon (Lamela), Kane (Paulinho), Townsend (Chadli); Soldado  Subs: (unused) Friedel, Dier, Chiriches, Mason

Mauricio Pochettino made ten changes from last Sunday’s team with Jan Vertoghen the only player to retain his place. Kyle Naughton returned at right-back after injury with Federico Fazio returning after suspension. Harry Kane and Roberto Soldado started with Benji Stambouli playing alongside Mousa Dembele as the defensive midfield pairing.

Brighton had made 6 changes and gave a debut to Christian Walton in goal. Jake Forster-Caskey, the son of former Tottenham player, Darren Caskey, started in the visitor’s team.

Following a delayed kick-off due to traffic congestion in the area, Tottenham made a quick start to the game and for the opening quarter of an hour had Brighton penned back deep in their own half. For all their possession, however, Spurs didn’t create any clear chances on goal.

The tale of the first half was one of Tottenham possession (67%), corners (9), shots on goal (11) but only 3 on target without troubling the young goalkeeper to any great extent. The moment which caused him most concern was in the 10th minute when he missed a cross but there was no Spurs player around to take advantage.

Harry Kane had an early shot blocked for a corner then linked well with Roberto Soldado and Aaron Lennon whose shot was also blocked. Spurs played the ball about passing quickly but Brighton defended determinedly and made life difficult for Spurs. A low shot by Jan Vertonghen was well held by the goalkeeper.

Gradually, Brighton moved further forward and forced Spurs to pass the ball around in their own half and at the half-way line. When the opportunity arose, Brighton got forward quickly and looked to play the ball behind the Spurs defence with the pace of Lua Lua a worry for Spurs. From one situation, after 15 minutes, he got behind but his shot went over from a tight angle.

After 20 minutes Ben Davies played a cross to the near post, causing the goalkeeper to make a quick change of direction to save for a corner. Brighton had appeals for a penalty when a high cross into the area caused Spurs some difficulty and the ball struck Kyle Naughton on the arm. The referee waved play on in the 27th minute.

A Brighton free-kick went over from 30 yards after 32 minutes and despite continuing pressure and a series of corners from efforts at goal, Spurs only had a free-kick by Kane which went straight at the goalkeeper from 30 yards to show for their effort.

At the start of the second half Erik Lamela replaced the injured Lennon and Spurs continued to dominate possession. In the 50th minute, a dangerous cross from Naughton was just ahead of both Soldado and Kane who was pushing up as a second striker.

Erik Lamela Goal

The breakthrough came 4 minutes later with a well worked goal with good inter-passing between substitute Erik Lamela and Soldado which worked the ball forward quickly allowing Lamela to get into the box to finish off.

Having gone ahead, Spurs were content to retain possession in midfield but as Lamela tried to get forward, the ball fell to Kane who put his shot wide in the 56th minute. Two minutes later a cross from Naughton was deflected out with Soldado waiting.

On the hour Lua Lua delivered a dangerous cross into the area but Vertonghen carried the ball from deep and released Townsend who played in Soldado but his shot crashed off the bar.

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Lua Lua continued to trouble the defenders and appealed for a penalty when tackled by Fazio. Mousa Dembele found Soldado in the penalty area but his low shot was saved by the goalkeeper.

The game had become more open and Spurs were finding greater space in the Brighton half but were unable to find the final pass to create a goal scoring chance.

In the 73rd minute a curled shot was held comfortably by Vorm but a minute later Spurs doubled their lead.

Harry Kane Goal

The ball had been played forward quickly. Townsend got to the by-line and pulled it back to Soldado. His first time effort was saved by the goalkeeper but the loose ball fell to Kane to score his 8th goal of the season.

Tottenham played out the final minutes without any alarms to maintain their unbeaten Cup record against Brighton.

Spurs will meet Newcastle United at White Hart Lane in the quarter-finals in December and again have Erik Lamela and Harry Kane to thank for the two goals which took them past Brighton.