Half the power of’SON TOP’ than a year ago… Son Heung-min is also worried about’helper’ [현장메모]

[브라이턴=스포츠서울 고건우통신원·김용일기자] The more painful thing than losing the second straight was not finding’how to win without Harry Kane’. In addition, Heung-min Son, who is looking at’Career High’, boasting of breathing with Kane this season, has also caused many concerns.

Tottenham, who was selected by Son Heung-min as one of the forefronts, was shocked 0-1 in an expedition to Brighton in the 21st round of the English Premier League (EPL) in the 2020-2021 season with Brighton held at the Brighton Amex Stadium on the 1st (Korean time). Tottenham, who lost 1-3 in their home game against Liverpool in the previous 20th round, fell into a swamp of 2 consecutive losses and remained in 6th place with 33 points (9 wins, 6 draws and 5 losses). 17th place Brighton (21 points) worried about a fall in the relegation zone, which was more shocking. Moreover, Brighton suffered from a draw (6 draws, 4 losses) poor performance in 10 games he played at home this season. He won his first home victory against Tottenham.

Coach José Mourinho took out a three-back card against Brighton’s 3-5-2 formation. With Son Heung-min on the top as expected, Garus Bale and Steven Verbine were deployed in an attacking triangle. However, from the beginning, Brighton did not come down and pushed hard, and Tottenham was in crisis with frequent mistakes in rear build-ups. In the end, in the first 16 minutes, Leandro Trosar scored the first winning goal. Tottenham couldn’t even attempt a single effective shot in the first half, and they lagged 1-9 in the number of shots. In the second half of the year, coach Mourinho turned to four back with center-back Davinson Sanchez and long striker Carlos Vinicius, but eventually failed to hunt for the equalizer.

Exactly a year ago, in the second half of the 2019-2020 season, Son Heung-min played a one-top instead of Kane, who left the front line due to a hamstring injury. At that time, he scored five consecutive goals (6 goals) in the league and in the FA Cup. In the Aston Villa match (Feb. 16 of last year), the last game in a row, he collapsed due to a refracture in his right arm, but completely filled Kane’s gap. However, the appearance from the second half of Liverpool, where Kane was missing, to 90 minutes of Brighton, is the exact opposite. Son Heung-min only shot two shots against Brighton, of which one was effective.

Gareth Bale, who started in place of Harry Kane, has been replaced and withdrawn without showing much performance in the second half. Brighton | EPA Yonhap News

On this day, coach Mourinho was too conscious of the opponent’s three-back, but the speed and quality of the attack from the rear fell significantly. Compared to a year ago, it can be interpreted as’the difference between the helpers’. At the time, Dele Ali performed more than a certain level to support Son Heung-min, while Giovanni Law Selso and others served as the power of the second line. However, this season, as Ali was virtually classified as’non-electric,’ Kane came down to the second-tier area, acting as a playmaker, and jointly scored 13 goals only with Son Heung-min and EPL.

In the meantime, when Kane fell out, the Tottenham attack seldom meshed as if the screw was missing. In the second half, Vinisius, Lucas Moura, Erak Lamela, and other attackers included in the replacement list were dispatched, but there was no synergy. Bale, hoping to replace Kane in her heart, was still helpless. To make matters worse, Tangwi Ndombele, who played a key role in the second line in Kane’s battle, was replaced with Lamela due to injury.

At least he should have shown his performance to read his hopes for the next game, but he spent only 90 minutes of stuffiness. In particular, Tottenham will have to play nine official matches, including the League, Europa League, and FA Cup, in February, starting with Brighton. What’s encouraging, though, is that Kane’s injury isn’t as serious as expected. In the first place, the local media expected Kane to return six weeks. However, some local media, such as’Football London’, said Kane’s condition is improving and predicted a return in the 24th round with Manchester City on the 14th, two weeks later.
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