In what felt like a three-period hockey game filled with questionable calls both ways, Tottenham Hotspur did enough to beat Brighton and go second.
Tottenham Hotspur were coming off a difficult 1-0 win at Burnley on Monday, followed by a poor performance and loss in Belgium midweek. Given Spurs have had games scoring 5 and 6 goals and blown points from winning positions twice anything could have happened Sunday and it almost did as Harry Kane and Gareth Bale goals took Spurs over the Seagull 2-1.
In some respects, this game had the feel of a hocky game where there were three distinct periods of play, although the middle period was considerably longer than either the first or second. Ultimately, Tottenham did enough in the first and third periods to win the game.
Kane scored less than 13 minutes in from the spot, marking his 149th goal in the Premier League and 199th goal for Tottenham in all competitions, making his next goal a real milestone. Then came a long passage of play really controlled by Brighton culminating in a controversial goal and a 1-1 tie. Finally, Gareth Bale came on and got to play the part of hero as his header at 73 minutes concluded the scoring. So how did it all play out at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium?
First Period 1-0 Tottenham Take Charge
The first period was from kickoff until about 20 minutes into the game. In that first 20 minutes, Tottenham were on the front foot and had Brighton penned in. Spurs nearly scored at 3 minutes, as Son Heung-Min played in Erik Lamela who patiently waited in the box and then just missed Kane at the far post as the defender cut the pass at the last minute.
Sergio Reguilón found himself in the box only five minutes in and got a shot on target, which debutant keeper Robert Sanchez parried over the bar. Ultimately, a savvy play from Harry Kane got Tottenham a penalty. A penalty which VAR turned into a spot kick, which Kane promptly dispatched for the 1-0 lead for Spurs just 12 minutes into the match.
For a further 6-8 minutes Tottenham continued to knock the ball freely around the pitch, using some nice third man running to create space on the wings and push back Brighton in defense. There were little combinations of passing triangles and duos, which would then lead to a big switch and space for attack, things were looking good for Tottenham. Then at 20 minutes things changed.
It started oddly enough with a poor Brighton giveaway that seemingly had Son in on goal. Ultimately, Son could not get in and then went down kind of easy in the box as he passed it. This led to Kane going down in the box as well and the ball going out. A short VAR check on both incidents later and after both Tottenham attackers may have been lucky to avoid a yellow card for simulation.
Brighton was upset and the momentum seemed to be shifting but before that could happen one last VAR incident had to occur. Matt Doherty seemed to have grabbed Leandro Trossard in the box and impede his ability to reach a cross; but after a long, long review it was no call for Brighton and the match went on. Now feeling themselves more slighted Brighton began to step up as Spurs no longer looked to maintain a stranglehold on possession and the Seagulls slowly worked their way back into the game.
Second Period All Brighton
It started with the no calls and then began to grow. Tariq Lamptey – who gave Sergio Reguilón fits all day – was starting to work the ball with Lallana, himself looking to atone for the foul leading to Kane penalty kick. As the pressure grew on the left, it was clearly annoying Sergio Reguilón who was lucky to avoid a yellow card after coming in late on Lamptey at 28 minutes.
Lamptey continued to apply pressure down Tottenham’s left side and suddenly the space and possession Spurs were finding was gone. As Brighton continued to apply pressure earning their third corner of the half, which Harry Kane cleared as usual – the only thing slowing Lamptey down was a foul throw he was flagged for at 33 minutes. (Serge Aurier is no longer alone)
Reguilón was not really slowing Lamptey down and came in late again and was booked. This time for a late challenge on Pascal Gross. Spurs did get a late set piece to end the half, but Lamela’s shot from a poor angle went high and wide. And the half ended 1-0 Spurs, but Brighton was in the game.
The second half started better than the first ended for Spurs, but ultimately, Brighton were still on top of the ball. Tottenham were on their heels and some dumb passes had kept the pressure high. Then the moment of the match occurred. The ball was stolen from Pierre Hojbjerg just in front of the referee, as Tottenham players protested, play went on and Graham Scott did nothing.
A few passes later, the ball was back with Lamptey somehow all alone inside the box angling toward goal. Lamptey calmly slotted to the far post past Hugo Lloris and the game was tied. Or was it? Spurs players were continuing to protest the no-call on Hojbjerg and since it led directly to a goal, VAR decided to have a look.
It seemed VAR had decided, however, since Jon Moss would be overturning Graham Scott’s no call, Scott went over to the monitors to look again for himself. Getting two angles with himself in the picture right in front of him, where it was inconclusive if the Brighton player got the ball, but plain as day he had gotten Hojbjerg, Scott just stared.
After a minute or so, Scott shrugged his shoulders as if to say what do I care, and then turned around and pointed to midfield, the goal stood. What made this worse, was then – at least here in the states – Peacock showed a THIRD angle of the play, where Hojbjerg clearly touched the ball past the Brighton player and then their foot clambered into Hojbjerg. This was the obvious foul angle, available for TV, but not for the referee, total fail on all parts here.
Nevertheless, this was the wake-up Tottenham needed as slowly Spurs seemed to wake up and start to play again. As Jose Mourinho brought on first Giovani Lo Celso and then Gareth Bale, the momentum again began to swing, this time in favor of Spurs.
Tottenham’s Third Period Triumph
The change in momentum was not nearly as obvious here as it was when Brighton took hold of the match, but it swung again. Erik Lamela had hit the post with nearly his last touch of the game and then Harry Kane had hit the woodwork trying to convert a corner at the back post. Things were looking up for Spurs when a familiar sight was seen again.
Toby Alderweireld brought out the old six iron and was able to get free enough to launch a beautiful diagonal ball to Sergio Reguilón far on the left. The Spaniard then went to work looking up and seeing Bale near post and Kane far. Reguilón cut from his left, back to his right and then struck a sweet, short cross right to Bale near post. Having missed a chance on goal against West Ham, Gareth Bale made no mistake today as he hammered the header home like a training ground exercise. The Real Madrid connection had come through and Spurs were back on top 2-1.
There were some moments of worry as Spurs worked to see out the match, including Graham Scott again not blowing his whistle as Hugo Lloris was plowed over by Danny Welbeck. Tottenham managed to clear the ball on that occasion thanks to some solid defending by Gareth Bale. Brighton did get a free kick at 86 minutes, but Webster mistimed his jump, and his head was on goal, but was an easy looper for Lloris.
There were some more calls on both sides for some fouls, but ultimately, smart plays helped Spurs hold on. Moussa Sissoko wasted a minute dribbling to the corner and Harry Kane, who did get fouled wasted another minute. After six minutes of stoppage time Scott finally blew his whistle and the three points were all Spurs.
Spurs now sit 2nd in the table, two points off Liverpool and a point ahead of three others. This was a big win as Spurs have a busy week. From here Tottenham travel to Bulgaria for Europa League on Thursday and then go to the Hawthorns to face West Brom next Sunday. Following next Sunday’s game there will be an international break, with Spurs then off until Saturday November 21, hosting Manchester City.