Tottenham beat Sydney FC on penalties to earn their third victory of pre-season after being held to a 1-1 draw over 90 minutes during which Mathys Tel scored a stunning free-kick.
Tel found the top-right corner with a wonderful strike from 25 yards in the 29th minute in Sydney, but the A-League side equalised after half-time through Takahiro Sekine before Martin Dubravka saved a penalty in the shoot-out, which allowed Dane Scarlett to net the winner.
Tottenham are interested in signing Manchester City winger Savinho and Tel, who only signed for the club permanently this summer in a £30m deal from Bayern Munich, appeared to respond to those transfer links with a stand-out 45-minute display off the left.
Roberto De Zerbi rested a host of his stars, including Mateus Fernandes, but started midfielder Lucas Bergvall, who Sky Sports News understands wants to leave the club this summer, for his first pre-season minutes before he was replaced at the break by club-record signing Sandro Tonali.
Andy Robertson made his first Spurs appearance as a second-half substitute, being handed the captain’s armband and impressing in a 25-minute cameo by setting up two chances and having a shot saved before tucking away a penalty.
More to follow…
The key moments from Sydney
- 15: SPURS DOMINANT! Tottenham enjoy 80 per cent possession in the opening 15 minutes.
- 29: GOAL! Tel strikes a stunning free-kick into the top-right corner from 25 yards.
- 36: WOODWORK! Gallagher goes close to adding Spurs’ second, sending a shot against the right post.
- 40: DUBRAVKA GETS LUCKY! Sydney’s Macallister tries to lob Dubravka from the halfway line and his effort drops wide.
- 46: SUBS! Tonali comes on for Spurs at half-time as one of three changes.
- 47: CROSSBAR! Spurs sub Williams-Barnett hits the crossbar with a close-range shot.
- 55: EQUALISER! Sydney level things up as Spurs sub Takai’s interception plays Sekine in on goal to score.
- 65: ROBERTSON! The former Liverpool left-back makes his first Spurs appearance and wears the captain’s armband.
- 70: WHAT A MISS! Yang denies Robertson an assist, turning his low cross wide from close range.
- PENALTIES! Dubravka makes a big save in the shoot-out before Scarlett wins it.
July 22: Tottenham 1-0 MK Dons – Spurs training ground
July 26: Tottenham 2-0 Auckland FC
July 29: Tottenham 1-1 Sydney FC (4-2 on pens) – Sydney
August 1: Tottenham vs Chelsea – Sydney, 10.45am
August 8: Tottenham vs Getafe – Spurs training ground (behind closed doors), 3pm
August 15: Tottenham vs Hoffenheim – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, 3pm
August 16: Tottenham vs Hoffenheim – Spurs training ground (behind closed doors), 12pm
