Substitute Harry Kane Scores Late Tottenham Winner At Villa

Tottenham recovered from a goal down to score two goals through Nacer Chadli and substitute Harry Kane in the final six minutes against 10-man Aston Villa.

Aston Villa 1 Tottenham Hotspur 2

Scorers: Weimann Chadli, Kane

Team: Lloris, Naughton, Kaboul (c), Vertonghen, Rose; Capoue (Townsend), Chadli, Eriksen (Lamela), Mason; Adebayor (Kane), Soldado Subs: (unused) Vorm, Fazio, Dembele, Stambouli

Mauricio Pochettino sprung a surprise by leaving out Erik Lamela for the first time this season in a Premier League game. He played both Emmanuel Adebayor and Roberto Soldado with the latter playing a deeper role. As expected Kyle Naughton returned to league duty after his display in Wednesday’s Cup win over Brighton.

After a positive opening in which Tottenham went forward in numbers and had a shot from Soldado go past the post and a cross by Nacer Chadli gathered by Brad Guzan in the Villa goal, it was Villa who hadn’t scored for 504 minutes who looked the more dangerous. Villa used Christian Benteke to good effect to win the ball in the air and to hold it up to bring others into play.

Benteke put a diving header wide when Younes Kaboul missed the cross from the right-back in the 10th minute. Spurs responded when Soldado put a header wide after a shot from Christian Eriksen hit Chadli and fell to the Spaniard.

Benteke hit the post with a shot, having sat deep waiting for the ball to be pulled back to him. Another error by Kaboul presented Benteke with a chance in the 14th minute but the striker headed over.

After 16 minutes, as every Tottenham supporter had been expecting, Villa broke their goal drought with their first goal since early September. Poor defending by Danny Rose, caught out of position and then easily beaten in the challenge, Villa delivered a cross into the box for Weimann to score from 10 yards.

Tottenham did respond with a period of pressure as Villa sat deep but when Chadli pulled the ball back to Soldado, he put his shot high into the stand. A minute later, Spurs had their best scoring opportunity came when Soldado played the ball through to Adebayor in the 26th minute. With only Guzan to beat, Adebayor side-footed a low shot but the goalkeeper dived to push it around the post.

Further pressure, from Spurs failed to produce a goal and in the final minutes of the half pushed forward again and troubled the Spurs defence who were unable to cope with crosses played into the box. A good run by Ryan Mason was stopped with a foul on the by-line but Eriksen wasted the free-kick.

At half-time Erik Lamela replaced Eriksen who had a disappointing half. The early play went from end to end but neither team threatened on goal but on 51 minutes, in a break by Chadli, his shot was parried by Guzan but Adebayor, under pressure, put the rebound wide from close in.

Harry Kane to the Rescue

Spurs game was becoming very disjointed with misplaced passes so Pochettino sent on Harry Kane for Adebayor with 57 minutes played. Kane had an immediate impact with a low cross into the area which Guzan put out for a corner. From Lamela’s corner, Kane headed the ball straight at the goalkeeper. All that in his first minute on the pitch.

For a period the game became tetchy with heavy challenges and it boiled over when Benteke was sent off having kicked out at Lamela and in the ensuing melee pushed Mason in the face. This changed the game as Villa sat deep to deny Spurs but then looked to break quickly. Spurs had plenty of pressure and possession with Guzan called upon the claim the ball but without being troubled.