Richarlison tapped in a stoppage-time rebound to give Tottenham Hotspur a 2-1 pre-season win over Chelsea in Sydney on Saturday, in a match that was far from friendly in spirit.
The two sides traded rough challenges throughout. Jan Paul van Hecke clattered Joao Pedro, notable given that when both were at Brighton the pair had been involved in a training-ground punch-up, and van Hecke later elbowed Joao Pedro in the rib cage. Conor Gallagher went through Dario Essugo, drawing the anger of several Chelsea players, and Wesley Fofana complained that Gallagher had poked him in the eye. Levi Colwill and Dominic Solanke also scuffled away from the ball.
Sandro Tonali opened the scoring with a 20-yard strike that deflected in off Colwill. Chelsea levelled when Jamie Gittens crossed for Estevao Willian to head home. Spurs appeared in control until Kevin Danso received a red card just three minutes after coming on, not for a rough challenge but for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity by dragging down Joao Pedro. Spurs held firm with ten men and Richarlison settled it in stoppage time.
Kinsky steps up
The main reason Chelsea could not capitalise on their numerical advantage was Antonin Kinsky, the 23-year-old goalkeeper who appears to be Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi’s first choice for next season. Previously substituted after just 17 minutes in a match at Atletico Madrid under former manager Igor Tudor, Kinsky denied Estevao Willian twice and also kept out Joao Pedro. When Andy Robertson’s chest-back fell to Joao Pedro in a dangerous position, Kinsky was there again to make the save.
When Spurs’ two central defenders split wide, Kinsky stepped in as a third centre-back, using his passing ability to help his side build out from the back.
Chelsea’s goalkeeper picture
A minor injury to Robert Sanchez left 23-year-old Teddy Sharman-Lowe to start in goal for Chelsea. Mike Penders, expected to compete with Sanchez for the No 1 spot under manager Xabi Alonso, has not yet returned from his post-World Cup break. Penders last played at club level for Strasbourg, on loan from Chelsea, on May 17, and went unused throughout Belgium’s World Cup campaign, with Thibaut Courtois preferred. Belgium were knocked out at the quarter-final stage on July 10.
Jamie Gittens impressed throughout pre-season but faces heightened competition. Mykhailo Mudryk is set to join Chelsea’s pre-season squad, and Morgan Rogers, signed from Aston Villa for £117 million, provides further rivalry for wide positions.
