Sunderland 0-1 Tottenham: Ryan Mason earns Spurs win with late goal after Jermain Defoe misses chances against his former club
- Ryan Mason put Tottenham ahead seven minutes from time with a well-taken finish at the Stadium of Light
- Jermain Defoe missed a glorious chance when one-on-one with Hugo Lloris, hitting the post against former club
- Tottenham handed debut to new signing Son Heung-min, while Dele Alli made his first Premier League start
With the standard of debuts already rather high over the weekend, a sense of excitement accompanied the appearance of some fresh new faces here on Sunday.
There was Son Heung-min, the most expensive Asian player in history and someone Mauricio Pochettino clearly hoped would assist Harry Kane in rediscovering his predatory prowess. And Fabio Borini, who made his first appearance as a full-time Sunderland employee.
It was to these more creative players that two managers desperately in need of a first win of the season turned for inspiration. But the Son did not exactly shine at the Stadium of Light and nor, in fairness to the South Korean international, did too many others.
Ryan Mason reaches the ball ahead of Costel Pantilimon to nick the ball past the Sunderland keeper and put Tottenham ahead
Mason, who was injured in the clash with the keeper as the ball rolled into the net, gave his side their first win of the season
The Spurs players celebrate with their goalscorer, but the England midfielder was left injured by the incident which won his side the game
Mason was taken off the pitch on a stretcher after suffering the injury in scoring the decisive goal at the Stadium of Light
In the end it fell to midfielder Ryan Mason, who earned a first England cap last season, to break the stalemate with a marvellous 82nd-minute winner.
Mason was as courageous as he was creative in the way he finished a move he started, racing on to a super pass from Erik Lamela before lifting the ball over the advancing Costel Pantilimon.
That he maintained his composure when it was quite clear he was about to be clattered was to his credit. As was his attempt to celebrate the goal, adrenaline pumping, only to then collapse to the ground with what looked like a nasty knee injury.
Pochettino says Mason will have a scan on Monday but the fact that he left the field on a stretcher is hardly encouraging.
Tottenham’s manager could do with Mason being lucky because the 24-year-old was central to the more positive aspects of a largely disappointing Spurs display.
They appeared bereft of ideas. In the first half Kane, still without a goal for Tottenham this season, enjoyed just one touch of the ball in Sunderland’s penalty area.
Indeed it was not until the second half that the visitors managed a shot on target.
But Tottenham finished the game the stronger of the two sides, their goal the product of a final 20-minute spell when they enjoyed more than 70 per cent of the ball.
By then Sunderland had run out of gas, having had the better of the chances up to that point.
Twice they hit the woodwork, with Jermain Defoe sending one first-half shot against a post when he really should have scored.
Afterwards Dick Advocaat spoke with some optimism about his team. But he has predicted a campaign dominated once again by the threat of relegation.
Jeremain Lens looks a decent signing and on occasions Ola Toivonen combined well with Defoe.
Whether that is enough to climb off the bottom of the table remains to be seen.
That said, they were certainly the better team in the opening 45 minutes. Tottenham’s best opportunity probably fell to Son, the Korean contriving to miss a ball played into his path by Nacer Chadli and so enabling Jordi Gomez to make the interception.
Kyle Walker might have had a penalty in the opening couple of minutes when he was fouled by Patrick van Aanholt.
But that aside, there was little to encourage Pochettino.
Attacking with more flair and urgency, Sunderland created a series of opportunities for Defoe, who dragged a shot on to the post when sent clear by Lens.
The ex-England striker later had his shirt tugged by Toby Alderweireld for what might have been a penalty.
Kane, meanwhile, was having a shocker. Had he anticipated a fine delivery from Dele Alli he would have been presented with the simplest of tap-ins after the break.
As it was, the ball rolled across Sunderland’s six-yard box unchallenged.
To his credit Kane provided the initial link between Mason and Lamela in the move that led to the goal.
In response Jack Rodwell sent a shot crashing against the crossbar for Sunderland — a further source of frustration for a club who, over the past five years, have developed something of a habit of starting the season badly.
Jermain Defoe, having escaped from the Tottenham defence, fires at goal with only Hugo Lloris to beat, but saw his shot hit the post
Defoe puts his hands to his head after spurning the chance to put Sunderland ahead against his old club, the best chance of the first half
Ola Toivonen had Sunderland's best opportunity of the second half, but seemed to pull out of the shot with Hugo Lloris arriving
Kyle Walker chases the ball alongside Fabio Borini, after the England full back had sustained a rip to his shirt early on in the game
Harry Kane also saw his shirt ripped, as Spurs' kit proved as flimsy as Sunderland's finishing at the Stadium of Light
Tottenham's South Korean forward Son Heung-min, making his debut after joining from Bayer Leverkusen, is tackled by Jordi Gomez
Ola Toivonen can't believe his bad luck after Hugo Lloris holds onto a shot, as Sunderland created good chances but couldn't score
Son had a glorious opportunity for the visitors before half time, but fluffed his lines from just outside the six-yard box
The £22million signing looked sharp at times on his debut, but was unable to break the deadlock when the chance presented itself
Billy Jones executes a well-timed tackle on Tottenham left back Ben Davies during a game that was scrappy for long periods
Young midfielder Dele Alli was handed his first Premier League start by Mauricio Pochettino for the trip to the Stadium of Light
England striker Harry Kane, still yet to score in the league this season after being so prolific last term, goes down holding his ankle
Dick Advocaat issues instructions as his side created the better chances, but struggled to hit the target, in a frustrating performance
Kane battles with Jones for possession as both sides showed plenty of effort, but not a lot of quality in the final third
Defoe, who had a string of chances to score against his former employers, tries his luck from long range with a dipping effort
Another former Spurs man, Younes Kaboul, heads the ball away from danger as Sunderland defended better than in recent games
Defoe sees another decent chance go begging as Toby Alderweireld throws himself in front of the Englishman's shot
Defoe again shows his disappointment as, despite creating plenty of clear-cut opportunities, Sunderland lost for the third time this season
John O'Shea hooks the ball away from the on-rushing Nacer Chadli as Sunderland held firm for so long before being breached
The Sunderland captain O'Shea holds off the tackle of Kane, but he was unable to help his side to their first win of the season
Mason, who would later score the decisive goal, was lucky to avoid punishment for a challenge that left Borini hurt
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by Steve Kean 413