Published: 20 September, 2015
by DAN CARRIER  at White Hart Lane

Premier League
SPURS 1, CRYSTAL PALACE 0

FORWARD Heung-min Son sealed all three points for Tottenham this afternoon as Mauricio Pochettino's men saw off a spirited Crystal Palace side in an enthralling 1-0 home victory.

The Korean, bought for £22m from Bayer Leverkeusen, scored twice on Thursday in the Europa League against Qarabag and then won the game today for Spurs with a second-half strike.

It was all his man-of-the-match performance deserved, said Pochettino.

“Son is a player I have followed for a long time,” he said. “He can play as a seven, nine, 10 or 11. He can operate in different positions across the front. He comes with big expecations and we are very happy with him, so far. He has settled in. He has showed in training what a good footballer he is.”

Son's high-energy game invigorated a Spurs side who have yet to convince this term. But his goal, struck in the 68th minute, now means they have lost just once – the opening day away defeat to Manchester United.

Pochettino added that Son's style fitted in with his philosophy for Spurs.

“It is in his character to run a lot – we wanted to sign him because his profile is lots of high tempo and plenty of energy,” he added.

From the start Pochettino's young team created chances. Dele Alli, playing centrally, prompted attacks while Erik Lamela turned in one of his best performances in a white shirt.

On 10, the ground held its collective breath as Harry Kane rose to meet a Lamela cross, but the forward could only send his effort over.

Moments later, Alli drove a low shot that Palace goalkeeper Alex McCarthy stopped, and, from a tight angle, Kane followed up but could not steer the ball home.

At the other end, Palace went close through a Bakary Sako free-kick that Hugo Lloris pawed away, and Yohan Cabaye struck a post.

In the second half, Lamela sent a curling free-kick towards the top corner but McCarthy's athletic leap kept the scores level.

Spurs kept the pressure up, and, after Pochettino brought on Christian Eriksen on 65 minutes, an extra touch of quality made the difference. Lamela won a tackle on the edge of his own box, moved purposefully away and found Eriksen in space. His first-time pass sent Son bearing down on goal. With Kane also charging forward, Son was given vital space by retreating defenders. He used it to deadly effect, his shot squirming under McCarthy to win his new team all three points.

SPURS COMMENT by Dan Carrier

Heung-Min Son never stopped running and he capped it all with a great goal, the product of pace married with belief.

Afterwards, Pochettino revealed how Son had introduced himself to the squad – by taking a specially cooked Korean meal to Spurs Lodge for them to share.

“He brought some Korean food into the training ground for his teammates to eat,” he said. “I had a big, big plate of it – it was delicious.”

With more performances of this quality, he'll curry favour with the fans, too.

This week, Pochettino told the press that this was a make-or-break season for Erik Lamela. It looked like he had listened to his coach. He put in an enterprising shift, and started the move for the goal with a tackle, a dribble and a pass.

SPURS: Lloris, Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Son (N'Jie, 79), Kane, Lamela (Carroll, 86), Dier, Alli, Chadli (Eriksen, 65), Davies.
Subs: Vorm, N'Jie, Trippier, Townsend, Fazio, Eriksen, Carroll.