Son rises for Spurs as they go second

LONDON: Tottenham Hotspur made light of the absence of Harry Kane as two goals from Son Heung-min (pic) brought a deserved 2-1 win at Middlesbrough to move the unbeaten visitors back to second place in the English Premier League.

Although Ben Gibson clawed a goal back for Boro in the second half, the game was effectively settled by Heungmin’s two early strikes. That took his tally to four in three games – as many as he managed in the whole of last season. On seven minutes, the Korean fooled goalkeeper Victor Valdes with a double feint after a one-two with Vincent Janssen.

Heung-min’s second, on 23 minutes, was even better as he wriggled free from a seemingly impossible position out wide and bent a shot past the goalkeeper.

Christian Eriksen and Janssen both went close for the visitors before Gibson struck half-way through the second half, heading home Stewart Downing’s cross.