Dele Alli's Header Seals Tottenham's Win over Newcastle

Published on 11-Aug-2018 by srijan213

Soccer    Soccer Daily Update

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Dele Alli's Header Seals Tottenham's Win over Newcastle

St James's Park in Geordieland is a site to behold.

It's steeped in football tradition, drenched in fervid emotion, and doused in perennial Premiership underachievement.

The Magpies are the Cubs before the Cubs got good.

Every August, hope springs eternal, and every May, everyone involved wonders how it could all go so wrong.

 

Tottenham, on the other hand, rolled into Newcastle brimming with confidence. After all, their young side showed Spurs to be a team on the rise last season.

Besides, they're opening against Newcastle.

 

Although it's just the beginning of the regular season, everyone looked in mid-season form:

  • Before the game, Newcastle fans staged a protest against ownership, and
  • Spurs, who took criticism for not making a single signing this summer, broke from the gate looking like they didn't need one.

Tottenham got on the board early -- as in the 8th minute -- when Christian Eriksen's corner ended up on Jan Vertonghen's noggin. His redirection clipped the post and went over the line.

 

Three minutes later, though, the Magpies response came when Matt Ritchie lofted one to Joselu, who scored the equalizer:

 

Hugo Lloris had no chance, while the Toon Army lit up.

Their euphoria didn't last long, though. In the 18th minute, Dele Alli managed finished a seven-iron from Serge Aurier by heading in at the far post:  

 

1-2 Tottenham, and that's the way it was.

Newcastle could've had a better luck, as two shots hit the post. But again, this is Newcastle, the sleeping giant of the northeast.

Lloris also saved a late Moussa Sissoko's close-range volley, securing the three points for Spurs. 

 

It was a hard-won triumph for Tottenham.

Meanwhile, same old story for Newcastle: close only counts in horseshoes, hand grenades, and social dancing.