Senegalese midfielder Pape Matar Sarr was among the goals as Tottenham Hostpur sealed a comfortable 3-1 home win over Bournemouth in the Premier League on Sunday.
The 21-year-old, who has been named in the Teranga Lions team for the Africa Cup of Nations in January 2024, broke the deadlock for Spurs in the ninth minute with a well-taken right-footed strike.
SARR BOY ???? pic.twitter.com/iecaDkFB6U
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) December 31, 2023
After receiving the ball from Argentine midfielder Giovanni Lo Celso, Sarr struck the ball from the middle of the box to the bottom corner, beating Brazilian goalkeeper Neto in goal for the visitors.
However, the euphoria of the goal was short-lived, as the former Metz man was tearful after being subbed off on the 32nd minute mark with an injury. The midfielder’s availability for the AFCON is now in doubt, with the tournament set to kick-off in Ivory Coast in less than a fortnight.
Bournemouth almost drew level in first-half stoppage time through the in-form Dominic Solanke, but the Englishman’s deflected effort was stopped by the woodwork. Shortly after, Son’s throughball puts Richarlison in behind the Bournemouth defence, with only Neto to beat. However, the in-form striker can only steer his shot wide from close range.
The two teams couldn’t have gotten a goal each in the second half restart, but Guglielmo Vicario denied Solanke’s, while Richarlison failed to convert his ckose range attempt at the other end.
After another missed chance from Solanke, Spurs’ captain Son Heung-Min doubled his side’s lead with an emphatic finish in the 71st minute. The South Korean forward was played in by Lo Celso before firing across Neto with his left foot and into the bottom-right corner.
Nine minutes later, Richarlison finally got his name on the scoresheet after several missed attempts. The former Everton man taps in from close range off Brennan Johnson’s low cross into the six-yard box.
+3 TO END 2023! ???? pic.twitter.com/bDDhg2RQPq
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) December 31, 2023
The Cherries pulled one back late in the game through 20-year-old midfielder Alex Scott, whose sweeping first-time effort creeps into the bottom-right corner.
The victory ensured Spurs won their first New Year’s Eve game in the Premier League since defeating Newcastle United 2-0 in 2005. It also saw them win their final match of the calendar year for the first time since 2017.
Ange Postecoglu’s side secured their 12th league win of the season, improving to 39 points after 20 matches. They go into the New Year in fifth place, just one point off Arsenal in fourth.
