Harry Kane becomes Spurs record Premier League goal scorer in 4-0 win
By Gary Pearson
By scoring, hitting the post and setting up Harry Kane for his club-record tying 97th Premier League goal, Son Heung-Min enjoyed his best outing of the season in Spurs’ 4-0 dismantling of Everton.
Kane – from an unorthodox, somewhat fortuitous finish, added his second, this time from a perfectly whipped in Eric Dier cross. Everything Kane touches turns into gold, which his 98th, and record-setting Premier League goal, was evident of.
More telling than the number of goals is the amount of games in which this venerable record was set: Teddy Sheringham scored 97 goals in 236 appearances; Jermain Defoe scored 91 goals in 276 appearance; Robbie Keane also scored 91 times, his coming in 238 matches; Kane has scored 98 goals in only 135 Premier League matches.
With his 19th and 20th Premier League goals – six in three matches against the Toffees – Kane’s blistering goal-scoring form continues. But it was Son’s man-of-the-match performance which secured all three points for Spurs, who were lively and unstoppable from kick off.
First half
Early and often the signs pointed to an eventual Tottenham opener. Playing with confidence, pace and more movement than a Manchester City transfer window, Spurs were back to their exceptional best.
All 11 players were up for this match; that was apparent from kick off. Other than a disallowed Wayne Rooney goal, who was clearly, albeit marginally offside, the Toffees couldn’t muster anything threatening going forward against a spry Spurs unit.
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While Sam Allardyce did his utmost, through mind-numbingly dull defensive tactics, to stifle and frustrate Tottenham, Mauricio Pochettino’s men were up to the test. Totenham’s fist good chance fell in the 15th minute to Son, whose flicked header from a Christian Eriksen free kick delivery skimmed inches over the crossbar.
Kane looked to let fire at every glimpse of goal. His first venomous drive came in the 22nd minute, but the attempt was parried away strongly by Jordan Pickford.
Spurs snatched their deserved lead four minutes later, when Son tapped in for his eighth goal of the season. In doing so, Son joined Jermain Defoe as the only Tottenham player to score a goal in five consecutive home matches.
Everton didn’t notch a single shot on goal in the first half, part of a disconcerting trend for the club.
Second half
Son dominated proceedings in the second half. He spun on a dime in the 47th minute to leave his mark in the dust and smartly, if not inadvertently, whipped the ball into Kane’s path, who was left with the easiest of tap ins.
Son followed that assist with a drive that hit the post flush from 18 yards out. The South Korean was unlucky not to extend Tottenham’s lead. Everton were outclassed in every facet of the game, highlighting what was a flawless home outing.
Christian Erisken – the benefactor of a sublime Dele Alli back-heel assist – added to the lopsided score line, ensuring Everton walks away from Wembley embarrassed, and with a collective tail between their legs.
Admittedly, Everton are plagued by numerous pervasive inflictions, including their inability to muster any offence whatsoever. The Toffees have bagged a single goal in their last five matches; combine that with a single win in 20 away outings and you can see why Everton supporters are aging at a disproportionate rate.
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Even with that caveat in mind, few teams in the world can keep up with Spurs when they’re in the kind of effervescent mood we witnessed at Wembley today.
With a favourable result from Anfield tomorrow, Spurs will once again take their rightful place in the standings, among the top four at the peak of the table.