Full TimeSecond Half ends, Tottenham Hotspur 2, Brighton and Hove Albion 1.Post updateAttempt missed. Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Pierre-Emile Højbjerg.Post updateAttempt saved. Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Pierre-Emile Højbjerg.Post updateAttempt blocked. Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Pierre-Emile Højbjerg.Post updateAttempt saved. Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Pierre-Emile Højbjerg.Son Heung-min scored his 100th Premier League goal and Harry Kane a second-half winner as Tottenham rode their luck to beat Brighton 2-1 at home. The visitors dominated large periods, and had two goals ruled out for handball, but the strikes from Spurs’ esteemed pair eased their recent struggles.
Son opened the scoring with a superb 25-yard strike inside the far post after 10 minutes, while Kane’s shot in the 79th minute deflected past Brighton keeper Jason Steele to seal the win. Lewis Dunk had earlier levelled in the first half for Brighton – heading in Solly March’s corner unchallenged at the back post – shortly after Kaoru Mitoma was judged to have controlled with his upper arm before converting.
The Seagulls had the ball in the net again in the second half but Danny Welbeck’s shot flicked Alexis Mac Allister’s arm on the way in and the goal was disallowed by the video assistant referee. VAR also turned down strong penalty appeals from Brighton with the score 1-1 when Mitoma went down under a challenge from Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
The match became increasingly fractious and both managers – Brighton’s Roberto de Zerbi and Spurs interim Christian Stellini – were sent off in the second half after a melee between the two benches.
The win keeps Spurs within three points of the top four, although they have played a game more than fourth-placed Manchester United, while Brighton drop to seventh. Son and Kane were instrumental for Tottenham, with Son becoming the first Asian player to score 100 Premier League goals and Kane netting his 25th of the season.
Despite Tottenham’s victory, Brighton had more possession, better chances and should have had a penalty. When Stellini was sent off, seemingly a bystander in the tussle which resulted in him being dismissed, the home crowd were singing the name of former manager Mauricio Pochettino.
However ugly Spurs’ second win in seven games in all competitions came, it will prove crucial if they are able to scrape into the Champions League again this season. With Manchester United and Newcastle taking three points on Saturday, the north London club were at risk of being cut adrift. Instead, they remain in touch.
The two sides lined up with Tottenham fielding a 3-4-2-1 formation with Hugo Lloris in goal, Eric Dier, Davinson Sanchez and Sergio Reguilon in defence, Pierre-Emile Højbjerg and Oliver Skipp in midfield and Son Heung-min and Harry Kane up front. Meanwhile, Brighton went with a 4-2-3-1 system with Jason Steele between the sticks, Joel Veltman, Lewis Dunk, Adam Webster and Bernardo Estupiñán in defence, Yves Bissouma and Solly March in midfield and Alexis Mac Allister, Danny Welbeck and Kaoru Mitoma up front.
The match saw some excellent individual performances from both sides with Dunk and Steele standing out for Brighton while Son and Kane were instrumental for Tottenham. The win keeps Spurs within three points of the top four, although they have played a game more than fourth-placed Manchester United, while Brighton drop to seventh.