Kane, Bryan lead Tottenham Hotspur over Paços 3-0 in Conference League

First Harry Kane eased a lot of minds saying he was staying at Tottenham Hotspur, then, the Spurs talisman led the team over Paços 3-0 in Conference League.

Tottenham Hotspur needed to win on Thursday and assure their place in the inaugural Europa Conference League Group Stage. Likewise, Harry Kane needed to show the Spurs faithful that he is 100% committed to the cause with the club. Within 15 seconds of the kickoff, both had nearly made that statement as Kane was in but missed his effort. Such was the push from Kane and the Spurs at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium they were simply not going to be denied.

Tottenham was on top from the off

With Harry Kane in the starting line-up, we knew Tottenham Hotspur was taking this match and their deficit against Paços de Ferreira seriously. Just how seriously was evident right from the kickoff. Just five passes into the match, Spurs new boy Cristian Romero was nearing midfield and blasted a long diagonal ball into the box toward Kane.

Seeing the Spur’s number 4 play a ball like this is nothing new, it just used to be Toby Alderweireld and with this ball, it looked like Romero was not missing a beat from his predecessor. Kane took the ball in stride as it lofted just over the most central defender.

Harry’s touch was absolutely perfect and he knew exactly what he was going to do with the ball as Andre Ferreira was rushing out. As Kane, Ferreira, and Marco Baixinho all came together, the Paços defender took the worst of it but Kane’s shot went wide.

The home crowd let Harry know all is well

Just a few feet away from a fairytale start as Kane jogged back the crowd started to sing a chorus of “he’s one of our own” Harry applauded the crowd and the game moved on. Despite the looming proposition of doing this all again next summer, everyone in the building knows a trophy or two this season changes everything.

The reality is, one of the trophies that Tottenham can realistically get would be this Europa Conference League. However, to get to the group stage, Kane and the Spurs needed to do more than come close, they needed to overcome a 0-1 deficit and make a statement. Only minutes later Tottenham would be doing that with another new boy working to find Harry Kane.

Bryan Gil and Kane carry Tottenham

Harry Kane was not the only story for Tottenham Hotspur on the evening as they cruised to a 3-0 win on the evening and a 3-1 win on aggregate. Bryan Gil who most assumed was coming to Tottenham to be a winger spent much of his evening playing in the #10 hole and Gil used this role to set up Harry Kane, as we had predicted in our projected XI.

After his missed tackle led to the goal-conceding counter-attack last week versus Paços we needed to see Harry Winks make amends. Winks did this in a big way to help Tottenham score their first on Thursday.

The move started with a cross from Matt Doherty, which Bryan dummied over but Kane was not ready for this bit of deception and Paços started to counter. As Ryan Sessegnon was running shoulder-to-shoulder with Jorge Silva to get the ball, Winks came screaming over. Winks timed his slide perfectly and intercepted the ball as Silva went tumbling over.

Winks then hopped up took a dribble and chipped a little ball forward toward a flashing Bryan. The young Spaniard collected the ball and turned to look into the box. Bryan zipped a ball into Kane’s feet who managed to hold the ball perfectly and slot for the 1-0 lead on the night. The effort from Winks was what we need from him and the ball from Bryan was what he was signed for. And Kane, well he did what he does and finished.

Tottenham continued to push and probably should have had three or four goals in the first half. Sessegnon had a couple of chances to score but was twice unable to reach the cross, despite his best efforts.

As one could predict, it was again Kane who scored to make it 2-0 on the night for Tottenham and turn the overall tie in their favor.

Giovani Lo Celso was working to make his mark too

Bryan again fed Kane who took his space and fired on goal. His shot was saved by Ferreira but there was a rebound to be had. Giovani Lo Celso looked to be first to the rebound but ended up getting bundled over as he tried to shoot. Showing he still has that poachers mentality, Kane had been just lurking near the top of the box waiting and was ready as Lo Celso’s shot got blocked.

A quick touch to settle and an easy – for Harry Kane – slot just inside the left post and Spurs had the lead on aggregate. This was a lead Tottenham never looked to relinquish although it took some time for the knockout blow.

At about 70 minutes Tottenham had a free kick near the edge of the box close to the corner flag. Lo Celso was trying to play a short ball to a flashing Harry Kane but defenders jumped the run. Lo Celso took two steps back and then just ran up and curled the ball past everyone into the net. With a 3-0 lead on the night and a 3-1 lead on aggregate, Tottenham had sealed the victory.

Yes, more goals would have been nice but Pierluigi Gollini was rarely if at all tested on the evening and the outcomes were never in doubt after the opening sequence. It was a solid professional win that Tottenham needed and lands them in the group stage, which will be drawn on Friday.