Kane and Mourinho’s double delight on a night of milestones
Double act: Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates with Son Heung-min after scoring his team’s second goal against Newcastle
TOTTENHAM boss Jose Mourinho has backed Harry Kane’s quest for another 200 club goals after seeing him complete his first double century at Newcastle.
The England captain scored twice in Spurs’ 3-1 Premier League win at St James’ Park last night to reach his landmark, and later dedicated the victory to team-mate Serge Aurier following the death of his brother Christopher earlier this week.
Kane tweeted: “That win was for you @Serge_aurier. Very proud to reach 200 club goals. On to the next 200,” and swiftly received the approval of his manager.
Mourinho said: “He’s a young guy. Two hundred goals at his age with the remaining years that he has in front of him, it’s very normal that he speaks about, ‘Let’s go for 200 more’.
“He’s a goalscorer, he’s a young guy. He has a lot in front of him, so let’s go for 200 more, I’m with him.”
Kane struck after the break following a quiet first half by his standards to win the game after Matt Ritchie had cancelled out Son Heung-min’s opener in spectacular style.
The England captain first outjumped defender Emil Krafth to head home substitute Steven Bergwijn’s inviting cross, and then stooped to convert the rebound after fellow newcomer Erik Lamela’s shot had been parried by goalkeeper Martin Dubravka in the final minute of normal time.
Magpies head coach Steve Bruce said: “There’s the difference, that quality up the top end of the pitch. Up until then we’d kept him very, very quiet, but he goes away with two goals and that’s a centre-forward and goalscorer and why they’re worth their weight in gold.”
It was a landmark evening too for Mourinho, who tasted league
NEWCASTLE: Dubravka, Yedlin (Lazaro, 55mins), Krafth, Schar, Fernandez, Ritchie, Saint-maximin, Bentaleb (M Longstaff, 86mins), Shelvey, Almiron, Gayle (Joelinton, 69mins).
Subs not used: Muto, Manquillo, Darlow, Atsu, Allan, Young.
TOTTENHAM: Lloris, Aurier, Sanchez, Alderweireld, Davies, Sissoko, Winks, Moura (Bergwijn, 57mins), Lo Celso (Lamela, 62mins), Son, Kane (Vertonghen, 90mins).
Subs not used: Sessegnon, Gazzaniga, Skipp, Fernandes, Tanganga, White.
Man of the match: Kane
Match rating: 7/10
Referee: David Coote
victory at St James’ for the first time as a manager at the eighth attempt, a relief as he prepared to walk past the statue of mentor Sir Bobby Robson on his way to the team coach.
The Portuguese said: “For me it’s a good feeling, yes, not because it was the only stadium in the English Premier League where I had never won before, I have no problems with that.
“But of course, I am very happy for the team and finally I can leave the stadium and pass Mr Robson’s statue and laugh with him because every time I come here, I leave the stadium and I look at him with a sad face.
“It’s the first time I can leave the stadium and smile.”
If Mourinho headed south with Europa League qualification very much on his mind, opposite number Bruce was left to reflect on a hugely costly evening.
Defender Fabian Schar suffered a suspected dislocated shoulder a day after skipper Jamaal Lascelles underwent ankle surgery, and striker Allan Saint-maximin sustained a calf injury.
Bruce said: “With the turnaround being so quick, we’ve got to look at even being ready for next season. We’re down to the bare bones.”
ARSENAL took advantage of two Liverpool errors to end the new Premier League champions’ quest for 100 points and maintain their slim hopes of qualifying for Europe next season.
The Gunners had not beaten Liverpool in their last nine league meetings but a 2-1 win at the Emirates Stadium, their goals coming from their only shots on target, left Mikel Arteta’s side ninth — only three points behind sixth-placed Wolves.
When Sadio Mane gave the visitors the lead it looked to be the same old story for Arsenal against their so-called top-six rivals, but Alexandre Lacazette and Reiss Nelson pounced on costly mistakes to turn the game around before the interval.
Virgil van Dijk and Alisson were the guilty parties, with the defeat meaning Jurgen Klopp’s runaway side will now fall short in their attempt to end the campaign with their points tally in three figures.
Arteta, making five changes with an eye on Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final with Manchester City, opted to drop the likes of Pierre-emerick Aubameyang, Dani Ceballos and Hector Bellerin to the bench.
The hosts survived an early scare as goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez’s clearance was charged down by Roberto Firmino, with the ball hitting the base of the post before squirming behind.
Liverpool did not have to wait too long to break the deadlock, Firmino and Andy Robertson combining down the left to tee up Mane, who finished with ease.
Van Dijk has rightly been praised for his performances at the heart of the Liverpool defence but he gifted Arsenal their equaliser.
The Netherlands international was pressed by Nelson and passed the ball straight into the path of Lacazette, who was left with a simple finish.
Things went from bad to worse for the Liverpool defence before the break, with goalkeeper Alisson looking to play out from the back but only picking out an alert Lacazette, who played in Nelson to give Arsenal the lead.
Klopp was quick down the tunnel at the interval having silently fumed in his seat as the first half wore on.
His side continued to have the better of the ball after the restart and Mohamed Salah’s fine piece of skill left David Luiz on the ground, but Martinez was equal to the Egyptian’s strike.