Tottenham Hotspur defeated Sydney FC in a penalty shootout after their pre-season friendly concluded with a 1-1 draw over 90 minutes. The match, held in Sydney, saw Mathys Tel open the scoring for Spurs with a free-kick, while Takahiro Sekine equalised for Sydney.
Tel’s goal came in the 29th minute from 25 yards. Sydney FC responded 10 minutes into the second half. The game then proceeded to a penalty shootout, where Tottenham secured a 4-2 victory.
Match Highlights and Player Performances
During the penalty shootout, Sydney’s Joe Lacey hit a post, and Martin Dubravka saved Alex Popovic’s attempt for Sydney. For Tottenham, Sandro Tonali, debutant Andy Robertson, and Dane Scarlett successfully converted their penalties, sealing the win.
Andy Robertson made his first appearance for Spurs as a second-half substitute, wearing the captain’s armband for part of his 25-minute cameo. He was noted for setting up two chances and having a shot saved before scoring in the shootout. Conor Gallagher also had a chance in the first half, hitting the right post.
The match featured 10 academy players for Tottenham. Several key players, including James Maddison, Destiny Udogie, Kevin Danso, Dominic Solanke, Mateus Fernandes, Jan Paul van Hecke, and Micky van de Ven, were not involved in the game.
Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi mentioned that the physical condition varies among players, with some, like Archie Gray, Ben Davies, Sandro Tonali, and Mateus Fernandes, being ready for longer playing times. Other players, such as Conor Gallagher, Mathys Tel, Manor Solomon, and Richarlison, are working to improve their condition.
Lucas Bergvall’s Future with Tottenham
Midfielder Lucas Bergvall started the match, despite reports suggesting he wants to leave the club. The Sweden international, who played in a deeper midfield role during the 1-1 draw alongside Archie Gray, has reportedly received offers from Premier League rivals Newcastle and Nottingham Forest.
De Zerbi stated he would like Bergvall to stay, describing him as a potentially “top, top, top player.” However, the manager also clarified that he cannot guarantee a starting role for any player, including Bergvall, due to strong competition within the squad. De Zerbi acknowledged that Bergvall desires to play as a double pivot, a central midfield position.
The arrivals of Matheus Fernandes, a club-record signing from West Ham for £85m, and Sandro Tonali from Newcastle for £100m, have added to the competition in midfield, raising further questions about Bergvall’s future. De Zerbi admitted to having made mistakes in his handling of Bergvall following his appointment in March.
De Zerbi emphasised the need for a strong squad of 21 or 22 high-level players to compete for top positions, especially given the injuries suffered in recent seasons. He also stated that if Bergvall wishes to leave, CEO Vinai Venkatesham and sporting director Johan Lange would need to facilitate an exit on favourable terms for Spurs.
Upcoming Fixtures
Tottenham’s pre-season schedule continues with a match against Chelsea on Saturday in Sydney. Following this, they will face Getafe on August 1 at their training ground, and then play Hoffenheim on August 8 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with another match against Hoffenheim at their training ground on August 15.
Source: bbc.com