Tottenham beat PSG 4-2: International Champions Cup match report (VIDEO)

Toby Aldeweireld and Christian Eriksen scored long-range beauties, leading Spurs to a 4-2 victory over PSG in their opening match of the International Champions Cup. 

It was so hot, humid and sticky in Orlando the players were allowed intermittent water breaks. Nike’s Dri Fit shirts were rendered useless, definitely not living up to the name.

First Half

Loose defence from both teams saw four first-half goals, two of which occurring in the first 11 minutes. Slack Spurs’ defending allowed PSG to break in on a two-on-one, which Edinson Cavani deposited with great ease into the gaping goal. Hugo Lloris had no chance of bailing out his defence, who looked shaky all half.

It’s the kind of rust one would expect in their first competitive match in what seems like eons. Spurs responded well, with Christian Eriksen picking the ball up in one of his favourite spots on the field, about 40 meters from goal with time and space to turn. Eriksen, unlike his comrades in defence, has no such rust to remove.

If his first-half display is anything to go by, Eriksen is already in mid-season form. Reminiscent of his goal away to Fulham last season, the dashing Dane smashed a venomous drive home from over 30 meters into the top of the netting, levelling the entertaining affair.

Eric Dier had no right scoring Spurs’ second, closing down Kevin Trapp at breakneck speed. The PSG keeper slammed the ball into Dier’s outstretched leg, the ball then rebounding into the open goal. As you can imagine, Dier’s celebration was somewhat muted.

Unable to make up enough ground, Kyle Walker-Peters was in no-man’s land on PSG’s second. Javier Pastore picked up the ball in acres of space, cut infield and feigned Cameron Carter-Vickers – who partnered Jan Vertonghen. Racing over to cover Walker-Peters, Carter-Vickers overcompensated and was easily beaten by Pastore’s intelligent, yet deft, trickery.

Other than Eriksen, Vincent Janssen was the best player on the pitch in the first stanza. His off-the-ball movement was sharp, his control was tight and his passing was spot on. The Dutchman also completed an intelligent dink through ball to Ben Davies, whose cheeky effort was easily saved.

2nd Half

Trapp’s miserable afternoon was further exacerbated when he was sent off early in the second half, handling the ball outside of the area for a straight red. With PSG down to 10 men – and Victor Wanyama, Harry Kane, Kieran Trippier and Dele Alli introduced at the interval – Spurs started dominating the match.

Alli, who was gifted a chance on the back of PSG’s sloppy passing inside their own box, should have scored in the 50th minute but his first-time effort sailed agonizingly over the bar. Eriksen had a low zipping free kick saved in the 48th minute, but it was clear that Spurs’ showcase were hungry after the long layoff.

Tashan Oakley-Boothe, Spurs 17-year-old wunderkind, missed a sitter early in the second half. He’ll be bitterly disappointed with his effort. It appeared nerves got the best of him as the highly touted midfielder whiffed on his effort from close range.

Eriksen again unleashed a piercing long-range effort in the 71st minute, this time narrowly missing. The midfield maestro is already exuding confidence, particularly in shooting from far-flung postcodes.

Next: How the sports books rate Tottenham's Premier League chances

Aldweireld let fly from long range for Spurs’ winner. The center back hit the ball sweetly. Hopefully he can continue smashing shots with that kind of accuracy and pace.

A particularly dubious hand-ball infraction gifted Harry Kane and Spurs a fourth. Kane scored easily from the spot, lashing the ball home for his first of the match.

Tottenham can take a lot of positives from their opening match of the US pre-season tour. Their next game is against Roma on Tuesday, July 25.