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Mason moves make the difference for lucky Tottenham against Brighton

By Aaron Coe

Tottenham Hotspur's South Korean striker Son Heung-Min (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal of the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton and Hove Albion at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on April 8, 2023. (Photo by Ben Stansall / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images)
Tottenham Hotspur's South Korean striker Son Heung-Min (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal of the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton and Hove Albion at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on April 8, 2023. (Photo by Ben Stansall / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Lewis Dunk of Brighton & Hove Albion scores
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 08: Lewis Dunk of Brighton & Hove Albion scores(Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images) /

Goals from Brighton were inevitable, given the circumstances

Tottenham is far from the perfect team, and we all know despite being prone to get opened up when they are on the front foot, Spurs are not good enough to defend for 90 minutes at this point. That said, after the goal, Tottenham spent most of the remaining 80 minutes defending their goal, with 37% of the match spent in Spur’s defensive third.

Before the first half was over, Spurs’ zonal marking on set pieces once again bit them, as the most dangerous aerial threat on Brighton’s team – Lewis Dunk – was completely unmarked at the back post on a corner for an easy header to level the score at 1-1.

Brighton got 17 shots off and put the ball in the back of the net three times; fortunately, only one of the three goals stood in the end after some intervention from VAR.

VAR on Spur’s side for once

Every team can point to games where VAR was seemingly against them, and if you are a Brighton fan, this game was probably one of them. Twice, VAR was involved in goals not standing for the Gulls, and on neither instance was Stewart Atwell – the referee – asked to look at the monitor.

On the first goal, VAR was likely in the right, as there was insufficient evidence to overturn the call on the field. The assistant referee had flagged Kaoru Mitoma for a handball while controlling the ball for the goal. Had the assistant referee not raised the flag, the goal likely would have stood as the video replays were poor, but instead, Spurs caught a break.

The second goal was probably even more controversial for Brighton fans, as a shot from distance had deflected off Alexis MacAllister’s hand/arm and beat Hugo Lloris. MacAllister was turning his body away and had his hand down by his side, but the ball clearly struck his arm, which created the goal, so by the letter of the law, Spurs held on.

As if two goals being ruled out was not enough, there was a late second-half shout for a penalty as Pierre Hojbjerg – who looks completely spent – stepped on  Mitoma’s foot in the box, but no penalty was given.

With VAR seemingly behind them, it took an unlucky break to lead to what may have been some good fortune for Spurs.

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