Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son’s partnership back in business as Spurs secure a comfortable 3-1 win over an error-riddled Brighton side, despite star man Yves Bissouma’s dazzling performance.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe England striker put Tottenham 1-0 up in remarkable fashion inside 15 minutes with a curling effort from 20 yards. Only 10 minutes later, Spurs doubled their lead via a deflected Emerson Royal cross, taken away from Robert Sanchez by the boot of Solly March. Brighton however couldn’t create any real chances to get back into the game.
In the second half, a change of formation for Graham Potter’s side resulted in a switch of momentum, with Brighton having an abundance of goal-scoring opportunities.
The Seagulls found their way back in the game thanks to Bissouma’s shot at goal, the ball took a huge deflection off Hojbjerg’s back leaving Hugo Lloris wrong-footed and unable to stop the long-range attempt flying into the net.
Just moments after the Malian international gave Brighton a lifeline, who else but Harry Kane earned his brace. The goal came from yet another blunder by Adam Webster who got his own feet in a muddle, dribbling towards his own goal line, allowing Kane to slide in to nudge the ball into the net.
Embed from Getty ImagesFast Start
It only took 13 minutes for talisman Harry Kane to put his side into the lead, curling the ball effortlessly passed an outstretched Rob Sanchez in goal.
The chance arose when Webster scuffed the turf when attempting to pass out the back, gifting the ball to Heung-Min Son. The South Korean played into Hojbjerg who collected the assist.
Kane did the rest from 20 yards out hitting the ball sweetly with his right foot, getting back to his old goal-scoring ways. At full-time Kane admitted he couldn’t have struck it much better than that, “it was a nice one, as soon as it left my boot a saw it heading towards that corner.”
Nobody closed down Kane, almost encouraging the shot on goal. Lewis Dunk’s return to the back line after a period out due to injury did not get underway in the fashion he would have hoped.
Embed from Getty ImagesOnly 11 minutes later a stroke of luck enabled Tottenham to double their lead. Emerson Royal received the ball well inside his own half and drove forward dangerously.
Solly March came to close the Brazilian down as he reached the right side of the 18-yard box however when the cross was attempted, the outstretched leg of March caused the ball to take a massive deflection into his own goal.
Spanish goalkeeper Robert Sanchez had anticipated the cross and was out of net to collect it, and despite his best efforts, he was unable to get back in time to tip the ball away.
Emerson claimed the goal although it was clear to be an unfortunate own goal from Solly March and inside just 25 minutes, Brighton seemed out of the cup.
Embed from Getty ImagesChances keep on coming
Moments after March’s own goal, Tottenham charged forwards again looking for another. Spurs overloaded the Albion’s defence as Harry Kane linked up with Son by dinking the ball over to the winger at the back post.
Somehow Son wasn’t able to convert the header however the linesman later raised his flag for offside. Brighton getting away with yet another sign of a weak and unfit defence.
2 minutes later the deadly duo struck again, this time down the left flank. Spurs kept possession well, passing around Brighton’s defence inside the 18-yard box.
Similar to the previous opportunity, Kane chipped the ball over Brighton’s back line with Son awaiting the other end of the exquisite pass. Son pulled his pass back across goal in the hopes of a teammate to stab away the third in just half an hour.
The ball bounced off various players from both sides before eventually going out for a goal kick. The Seagulls defence had ridden the tough storm for the final time in the first 45.
Embed from Getty ImagesOpportunities wasted for Brighton
Towards the final 10 minutes of the half Brighton finally began to get into gear and create chances to pull one back before the interval.
Solly March came darting forward twisting and turning down the left flank before putting in the cross.
His low-driven pass arrives at the feet of Adam Lallana who is unable to bring the ball under control. His first touch attempt at the front post results in the ball rolling straight into the hands of Lloris.
Bissouma showcased his talents in the final exciting move of the half, setting Maupay with a back-heeled pass. Maupay spun off his defender before blasting his left-footed strike over the crossbar, throwing away the Albion’s last real opportunity to get themselves back into the match before the break.
Embed from Getty ImagesPotter alters formation
Graham Potter opted to change formation at half time, as well as bringing on Veltman for Lallana, as his current tactics weren’t working against a strong Spurs side.
It seemed although his decision had worked as for the beginning of the second half, Brighton dominated play, creating a vast number of chances.
5 minutes into the second half and Bissouma received the ball in the middle of the park before driving towards Spurs’ back line with purpose.
His long-range effort takes a deflection which wrong foots Hugo Lloris massively. The French international was able to get something on the ball to guide it around the outside of the post nevertheless.
Pressure continued from the Albion as the ball bobbled around the 6-yard box, leaving the travelling fans on the edge of their seats. It finally drops to star boy Tariq Lamptey however Tottenham put the 21-year-old under enough pressure to force his shot off target.
Embed from Getty ImagesBrighton caught out
At the hour mark Spurs caught Brighton’s defence napping as the side were pushing men forward and the deadly duo of Kane and Son burst forward.
Kane played the ball off to Son who really should have done better but his shot was directly at Sanchez, making it a rather simple save in the end.
Brighton were very lucky that Son’s chance was wasted as they had a lot of men forward with no way to even try to defend that counter attack.
Embed from Getty ImagesBrilliant Bissouma pulls one back
Finally a lifeline for Brighton as Yves Bissouma halved the deficit! The goal came from great determination shown by Ecuadorian prospect Moises Caicedo – who had been on the field for only a matter of moments – keeping the ball in play.
It eventually arrived at the feet of Bissouma who went past multiple players as he cut inside and attempted yet another shot from outside the 18-yard box.
The shot took a significant deflection off Hojbjerg’s back, once again wrong footing Lloris between the sticks, though this time the World Cup winning keeper couldn’t get to the ball flying into the back of the net.
All he could do was stare hopelessly with his feet planted to the spot. A deserved goal for Brighton after a much better start to the second half.
Embed from Getty ImagesHarry Kane gets his brace
Moments after Bissouma injected some belief into the Brighton side and their fans, an immense mistake from Adam Webster put it all to waste.
Son drove forward from the halfway line, gliding past Webster. Lewis Dunk – returning from a knee ligament injury – stepped forward and dispossessed Son via, the ball instead arrived at the muddled feet of Webster who subsequently dribbles towards his own goal line.
Despite doing his best to slide in and sweep the ball away from the defensive mess, Harry Kane got there first to prod the ball home and put Tottenham two goals ahead once more.
Embed from Getty ImagesBrighton’s best chance butchered
Instantly from kick-off, Maupay was gifted Brighton’s best chance of the game: through on goal vs Hugo Lloris. A great opportunity to great Brighton back into the game.
Devastatingly, Maupay lacked composure and squandered his big chance. He attempted to chip Lloris, however he shanked it and the ball fell straight into the relieved keeper’s arms.
Tottenham were extremely fortunate to get away with that as the entire line of defence was caught in no man’s land. Maupay’s mishap told the story of the match for Brighton, nothing was quite going their way.
Embed from Getty ImagesJuve boys get their debut
New signings Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur made their Spurs debuts in this fixture. Kulusevski came on for Lucas Moura in the 68th minute, whilst Bentancur replaced Harry Winks in the 77th minute.
Both of these exciting young players were signed from Italian giants Juventus during the January transfer window.
Kulusevski impressed instantly, making the most of his first few minutes for Spurs, he almost got an assist within 15 minutes of coming on as he passed the ball to Bergwijn running across Brighton’s box.
Unfortunately, the Dutch winger wasn’t able to convert Kulusevski’s cross from 10 yards, sending the ball flying over the bar, denying the Swede an assist in his first game.
Bentancur also wowed Spurs fans as he performed a lovely piece of skill on his box, fooling Evan Ferguson before passing out the back. He received an applause from Tottenham supporters for his performance despite it not being too long.
Embed from Getty ImagesOne final push
It was too little too late for Brighton as they desperately searched for some consolation after a very mediocre performance. In the final minute of the additional 5, Hugo Lloris spilled Danny Welbeck’s glancing header to an approaching Evan Ferguson.
The youngster eagerly attempts to get contact on the ball however Lloris recovers and launches himself over the ball – managing to prevent Ferguson from getting sufficient contact – before lying patiently on the ground to run down the final seconds on Stuart Atwell’s watch.
Embed from Getty ImagesSpurs progress to round 5
Despite gaining momentum in the second half, Brighton’s efforts weren’t enough to make up for their unfortunate mistakes that occurred for all 3 goals.
Son and Kane’s potent partnership proves to be back in delightful fashion as the attacking pair linked up on countless occasions, two of which led to the English number nine’s brace.
Bissouma once again showed his class and was rewarded for his valiant efforts by getting his name on the score sheet. Brighton have now only won 2 out of their last 10 FA Cup fixtures, while Spurs are in the hat for tomorrows draw.
Tottenham controlled the majority of the match, after holding off the Albion for a brief spell in the 2nd half, and now are a step closer to the silverware they so desperately long for.
Meanwhile, Brighton must only focus on a top-half finish in the Premier League as they fight to end the season in their highest ever position.
Embed from Getty ImagesWhat’s Next?
Next match report = Arsenal vs Wolves
Thursday 10th February 19:45
Line-ups:
Brighton – (4-1-4-1) Sanchez, Cucurella, Dunk, Webster, Lamptey (Welbeck 70’), Bissouma, Lallana (Veltman 45’), Gross, March (Caicedo 61’), Moder (Ferguson 79’), Maupay
Scorer – Bissouma (63′)
Bookings – Veltman (57′)
Spurs – (3-4-3) Lloris, Davies, Romero (Rodon 77’), Sanchez, Reguilon, Hojbjerg, Winks (Bentancur 77’), Emerson (Doherty 87’), Son (Bergwijn 69’), Kane, Moura (Kulusevski 68’)
Scorers – Kane (13′ 66′), March (OG 24′)
Bookings – Bentancur (86′)
Referee: Stuart Atwell
Attendance: 54,697
MOTM: Harry Kane
Written by Isabelle Newnham
INMR FOOTBALL 
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