Heung-min Son’s late winner saw Tottenham snatch all three points with a 2-1 victory over a stubborn Luton in north London.
The Hatters took a shock lead inside three minutes as Andros Townsend’s clever cross picked out Tahith Chong, whose rifled effort nestled in the net to silence the home crowd.
Spurs almost struck straight back, but their captain Son could only find the foot of both posts with an angled effort on goal after rounding Thomas Kaminski, before Yves Bissouma’s follow-up was cleared off the line by Teden Mengi.
The hosts finally found a leveller just five minutes after the interval as Pedro Porro’s whipped cross looked destined for Timo Werner before Luton’s Issa Kabore smashed the ball into his own net.
The two sides went in search of a winner. Ross Barkley and Jordan Clarke almost restored Luton’s lead, forcing two smart stops from Guglielmo Vicario. And Brennan Johnson’s effort from point-blank range was saved by Kaminski and cleared off the line by Alfie Doughty by the finest of margins.
But it was Spurs who found a second just five minutes from time, as Johnson brilliantly teed up Son on the edge of the box and Tottenham’s talisman fired past a stranded Kaminski for all three points.
MAN OF THE MATCH – SON HEUNG-MIN
Ten minutes from time, this award was going to Luton’s Mengi after a heroic performance at the back. But after snatching the winner, when Spurs needed it most, it’s impossible to look past their captain. The best player on the pitch.
TALKING POINT – SPURS RIDE THEIR LUCK BUT STAY IN RACE FOR TOP FOUR
If Spurs want Champions League football they have to beat teams like Luton. If they want Champions League football they have to beat teams without playing well. Today, they managed both.
It wasn’t pretty, but they didn’t let their heads drop even when two goal bound efforts were brilliantly cleared off the line. After a 3-0 thrashing by Fulham two weeks ago, Spurs needed to show resolve today, and they did.
PLAYER RATINGS
Spurs: Vicario 6, Porro 5, Romero 6, Dragusin 6, Udogie 5, Bissouma 5, Sarr 4, Maddison 6, Kulusevski 3, Son 6, Werner 4. Subs. Johnson 5, Lo Celso 6, Bentancur 5, Hojbjerg 5, Richarlison 6.
Luton: Kaminski 6, Townsend 7, Burke 6, Mengi 8, Kabore 6, Doughty 6, Mpanzu 6, Barkley 6, Berry 5, Chong 7, Morris 6. Subs. Clarke 6, Onyedinma 5, Hashioka n/a, Woodrow n/a.
KEY MOMENTS
3′ – GOAL! SPURS 0 LUTON 1 (CHONG). WHAT A START! Bissouma dives into a challenge on Townsend who jinks pas the midfielder and into space. He picks out Chong on other side of the box who rifles an effort past a helpless Vicario. Luton take the lead!
20′ – SON HITS BOTH POSTS. Wow. How have Spurs not equalised? Luton get themselves in a mess at the back, and Son is through. He takes it round Kaminski but his effort on the angle strikes one post and then the other! Werner’s rebound is then cleared off the line! Incredible
51′ – GOAL! SPURS 1 LUTON 1 (KABORE og) Spurs equalise! It’s end to end stuff as Porro picks the ball up on the right and runs at the Luton backline. After a smart one-two, he picks out Werner at the back post, but Luton man Kabore is there instead to whack the ball into his own net. After a brief VAR check on Porro, the goal stands! Spurs have opted to stick Werner in their goal graphic anyway!
79′ – OFF THE LINE! I cannot believe it! AGAIN! Johnson’s effort from ONE YARD is brilliantly and unknowingly saved by Kaminski, but the ball looks for all the world like it’s heading in anyway. After dribbling towards the post, everyone in the stadium thinks it’s in before Doughty clears off the line, but the referee, with goal line tech at his disposal, doesn’t blow the whistle. Incredible.
86′ – GOAL! SPURS 2 LUTON 1 (Son). It’s been coming! Spurs may just have won it thanks to their captain. A lightning breakaway, started by the South Korea, finds Werner on the left. The German surges forward and picks out Johnson who brilliantly lays off Son to strike home. Great goal.