Son reason for Spurs to shine this season
Striker inspired team in Champs League win
London – Inspired by the boundless energy and predatory finishing of their South Korean talisman Son Heungmin, Tottenham are set for a thrilling climax to the season.
With a major helping hand from the increasingly influential Son, Mauricio Pochettino’s side are in the thick of the Premier League title race and on course for the Champions League quarterfinals.
His latest crucial contribution to the Spurs cause came at Wembley on Wednesday as the forward turned the tide in a tense Champions League last16 first-leg tie against Borussia Dortmund.
The Bundesliga leaders had dominated the first half but Son put Tottenham in front in the 47th minute, making a perfectly timed run to meet Jan Vertonghen’s cross. Revitalised, Tottenham shook off the fatigue from their gruelling schedule and romped to a 3-0 win that has put them in sight of the Champions League last eight for the first time since 2011.
Son has now scored 16 times in all competitions this season and has 11 goals in his past 12 matches.
Since his return from South Korea duty at the Asia Cup at the end of last month, Son has scored in four consecutive games – a huge boost for Tottenham, who have been without injured Harry Kane and Dele Alli for several weeks. Whenever he has found the net this season, Tottenham have won. “Next time when Son scores, I go to the dressing-room, shower and wait for the game to end,” Pochettino grinned when asked about the forward’s latest heroics.
Son has been so vital and his form so consistent that he finds himself touted as a candidate for the player-of-theyear awards.
That would be a well-deserved, if rare, moment of public vindication for the 26year-old.
“Son was fantastic again. He is a player that provides the team with a lot of very good things,” Pochettino said.