Tottenham Hotspur seems to have completely collapsed internally. It is time for Son Heung-min to establish his authority as a captain.
Tottenham won 3-1 at home in the 31st round of the 2024/25 Premier League at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on the 6th (Korea Standard Time).
This brings Tottenham to 14th place with 11 wins, 4 draws and 16 losses (37 points), while Southampton confirmed their relegation early and will suffer after a season of promotion.
Tottenham manager Engie Postecoglou pulled out a 4-3-3 formation. Guglielmo Vicario defended the goal, and Jed Spence-Ben Davies-Christian Romero-Pedro made up the defense. James Madison-Rodrigo Bentancur-Lucas Beribal was located in the midfield, and Son Heung-min-Dominic Solanke-Brennan Johnson (23) was at the forefront.
In response, Southampton manager Ivan Yuric chose a 4-2-3-1 formation. Aaron Ramsdale wore goalie gloves, while Ryan Manning, Taylor Howudbelis, Yan Bednarek and Kyle Walker-Peters formed the defensive line. Joe Aribo-Lesley Ugochuku was placed in the midfield, while second-term Kamaldin Sulemana-Mateus Fernandez-Tyler Dibling supported Cameron Archer on the front line.
Tottenham won the game with an early score in the 13th minute of the first half. Spence, who quickly rushed into the left side, gave up a cutback, and Johnson kicked it with a left-footed shot without delay.
In the 33rd minute of the first half, Beribal scored an additional goal and ran away by two points. Romero dropped Porro's free kick with a header and Beribal put his foot on the net. However, VAR declared Romero offside and the score was canceled.
Johnson's multi-goal was scored in the 42nd minute of the first half. In a mixed situation in the box, Madison's header hit Johnson in front of the goal. Johnson shook the net with a sensational shot that took away Ramsdale's timing.
Son Heung-min finished the match after replacing Wilson O'Doubert in the 12th minute of the second half. The substitution seemed to be conscious of the first leg of the 2024/25 UEFA Europa League quarterfinal match against Eintracht Frankfurt on the 11th.
In the 45th minute of the second half, Southampton made a belated chase. Sulemana hit inside from the left side and crossed early, and Fernandez took it with his chest and finished calmly.
The controversial scene came right before the game ended. Wellington attempted an unreasonable tackle inside the box and knocked Johnson over, and the penalty was declared immediately. In this case, it is common for Johnson, who has a chance to score a hat trick, to handle the penalty. However, "rental" Matisse Tell (19) ignored Johnson's intention and started as a kicker, and scored his debut goal in the Premier League.
Initially, it was argued that the team was considering Tel, who failed to score for a long time, but Johnson was clearly seen shouting "hat trick, hat trick" on the broadcast screen. Regardless of the result of the 3-1 victory, the ranking and atmosphere within the team have completely collapsed.
British media 'TBR Football' said, "It is the decision of vice-captain Romero that Tel stepped up as a penalty kicker," adding, "I tried to complete the hat trick by receiving the ball from Johnson, but Romero lost the opportunity. After that, Romero seems to have decided that Tel, not Johnson, needs to score." 먹튀검증