K-League All Stars 3-6 Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham started their pre-season with a highly entertaining 6-3 victory against the K-League All Stars.
The spectacle was played in front of an enthusiastic 66,000 crowd in Seoul World Cup stadium. The venue is famous for the opening 2002 World cup match which saw Senegal beat France 1-0, the then reigning world champions.
The opening 20 minutes of the match was an even affair. Possibly due to Antonio Conte’s brutal preseason training regime and a K-League squad who are halfway through their domestic season.
The deadlock was finally broken when Eric Dier made a driving run through the K-League midfield. Dier then played a one, two with the returning Bryan Gil before unleashing a left footed shot that screamed into the top corner.
This did not deter a K-League team who then created several half chances before finally equalising at the stroke of half time.
A beautiful cross from the left-hand side of the pitch was met by Gue-Sung Cho. His late run split the spurs centre backs before heading past Brandon Austin to make it 1-1.
Conte made six changes at half time with Hugo Lloris, Japhet Tanganga, Matt Doherty, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Papa Mata Sarr and Harry Kane replacing Austin, Christian Romero, Ryan Sessegnon, Oliver Skipp, Rodrigo Bentacur and Bryan Gil.
Kane’s impact was instant when his dangerous low cross was turned into his own net by Jin-Hyuk Kim to give the tourists a 2-1 lead.
Then, Heung Min Son entered the fray to a hero’s welcome that is normally reserved for rock stars and royalty.
Conte later admitted he held the substitution back a few minutes so Son could get the reception he deserved.
However, the carnival atmosphere was slightly reduced when the K-League All Stars equalised again in the 52nd minute.
Neat play down Spurs left side gave Dutch born, South African international Lars Veldwijk the space to fire home on the edge of the box to make it 2-2.
Kane then got his second goal of the game in 54th minute with a low drive from 25 yards out. The shot nestled into the bottom corner to make it 3-2 to Spurs.
In the 68th minute, Spurs were awarded a penalty when Jun Amano inexplicably handled a routine clearance in the box.
Kane, the regular Spurs penalty taker, handed Son the opportunity to get on the scoresheet in front of his home crowd.
The five-time, Asian footballer of the year, then calmly chipped the ball straight down the middle of the goal to give Spurs a 4-2 lead.
Just when it looked like Spurs were going to run away with the game, a catalogue of errors gave the K-League a way back into the match.
First, Davinson Sanchez made a clumsy tackle on Amano on the edge of the box. The Japanese international then made amends with a free kick that beat a poor two-man wall and Lloris at his near post to make it 4-3.
With 19 minutes to go this exhibition was headed for a grandstand finish. However, on 75th minute, Spurs restored their two-goal lead.
New signing Richarlison played a great through ball to Son who appeared to be clear one on one with the keeper.
However, Dong Min Kim hauled Son down on the edge of the box. Although it was a friendly, the referee had no choice to send Kim off after denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity.
Kane, now clearly enjoying himself, then stepped up and scored his first free kick since 2014. Much like that day against Aston Villa, his shot took a massive deflection before beating the keeper to make it 5-3.
In the 85th minute, Son put the game beyond doubt. Capitalising on a poor cross field pass before rounding the centre back and goalkeeper before slotting home the last goal of the game to make it 6-3.
After the game, Conte told @Spursoffical: “I think it was funny, for the people. To play in front 60,000 people is amazing. For sure, it was exciting.”
“For the first game I have seen good positive things, other things we can improve. We are starting the season; we have to deliver physically. The level of the players is not so high at this moment.”
“We have to try to work. But at the same time, try to get some minutes in all the players of the squad.”
The match was more than just a victory for Spurs. According to Alasdair Gold, the match was the biggest streamed sporting event in Korean history, with two million watching the match online.
Spurs continue their pre-season tour in Korea when they play Sevilla in Suwon on Saturday.
LINEUPS: K-League All Stars: HW Cho, Kim, Bulthuis, Jeong, Park, Kim, Paik, Palocevic, Kwon, G Cho, Lee. Tottenham: Austin, Romero, Dier, Sanchez, Emerson, Bentacur, Skipp, Sessegnon, Gil, Richarlison, Lucas Moura
