Tottenham Hotspur’s pre-season campaign continues today as they face Sydney FC in Australia.
Spurs winger Mathys Tel scored a brilliant free kick to give the Premier League side the lead just before the half-hour mark.
Sydney striker Mathias Macallister's lob from long range and then a chip over Martin Dubravka both drifted narrowly wide.
Spurs XI: Dubravka (GK); Tye Hall, Hardy, Davies, Kyerematen; Gray (c), Gallagher; Solomon, Bergvall, Tel; Richarlison.
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Despite Tottenham dominating that first half, they needed a moment of magic to get their noses in front.
That moment of magic came from Mathys Tel in the 29th minute as he whipped a superb free kick into the top corner.
Gus Hoefsloot had no chance of keeping it out.
And while we’re handing out credit, let’s give some to Sydney FC too. After barely getting a kick in the opening 15 minutes, they grew into the first half and seemed to shed some of their nerves to eventually start threatening themselves.
Mathias Macallister has led that threat, but it’s also fair to think that this Sydney side looks more passive and a bit short compared to what Western Sydney Wanderers were capable of last night against Chelsea.
Credit to Tottenham there. They dominated the early exchanges and Sydney barely had a kick.
High-quality chances have been in short supply, but the goal was an excellent free kick from Mathys Tel and Spurs’ hosts have been kept at bay mostly.
The passing has been neat too, with Spurs finishing the half on 69 per cent possession.
I’ve spotted Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall cycling around Sydney harbour together in recent days, and they have looked pretty tidy together at the base of midfield tonight.
Although Bergvall could depart, De Zerbi’s decision to stick with Gray as captain looks a smart one thus far.
And again from Macallister, who has come to life here. He races onto the lengthy through ball down the left, beats both Dubravka and the defender to it and prods the ball towards the empty net.
Sadly, it’s just wide and Ben Davies is on hand to watch the loose ball out of play.
A couple of chances for Sydney to respond here.
Oh my goodness. Mathias Macallister receives the ball on the halfway line, spots Dubravka off his line and goes for the ridiculous.
And I can tell you, I thought that was going in.
In the end, it just drifts past the right post — but what a moment and what an effort. Love that.
Conor Gallagher could have had a hat-trick already! He wipes his face with his hand, disappointed with his third miss of the match.
The first was a miscue from a very promising position with lots of space, blocked, the second that horribly ballooned effort with the goal gaping after Gus Hoefsloot’s slip.
That time, he got the right contact and shape on the ball, but it struck the base of the post.
He’s getting closer!
Woah! Conor Gallagher now strikes the outside of the post with a side-footed effort. So at least he’s getting closer, after fluffing his contact with a similar chance earlier.
Youlley then gets another look at goal from range but balloons his shot, before we do finally see the yellow card as Alexandar Popovic flies through Richarlison.
I’m sure Gus Hoefsloot is enjoying the experience but now he’s just slipped as he takes a routine clearance, sends the ball straight to Conor Gallagher — and the midfielder can’t take advantage under pressure as his shot flies over and behind the goal.
Meanwhile, I hope you’re enjoying the lack of hydration breaks!
What a wonderful goal that is. Mathys Tel takes the free kick from about 22 yards and central — and he hits it with bend and dip to fly into the top corner past Hoefsloot who was left diving for thin air.
Tel puffed out his cheeks at the sight too. I think he liked that! Stunner.
Well, after Tottenham’s early domination, Sydney FC have settled into this now and it’s all got a big bogged down in midfield.
Takahiro Sekine then tries to catch a piggy-back ride off Manor Solomon without his permission and that concedes the silliest free kick I’ve seen in a while.
Tel to take from a promising position outside the box.
Lovely effort from the busy Youlley, which forces Dubravka into a smart stop down low to his right.
It all came from Archie Gray being too slow on the ball in front of his back four and getting robbed of the ball.
Gray had been doing OK to that point, but you do need to be sharper than that, even in a friendly.
Sydney midfielder Rhys Youlley is enjoying throwing his legs around here. He catches Archie Gray’s ankles and then fouls Conor Gallagher as Spurs build again.
The free-kick delivery is poor but another chance arrives shortly after as the low cross from the right finds Gallagher on his own, 12 yards out.
And he completely fluffs the effort, which is blocked.
That should be 1-0. Or maybe we’re already at 2-0 in the ‘should be’ scoreline. Either way, it remains goalless.