SON’S TOP GUNN
Spurs forward beats Saints stopper to settle tussle
SON HEUNG-MIN hit a late winner from the spot to see off Southampton and seal Tottenham’s FA Cup progress.
The Spurs forward netted three minutes from time after being brought down in the area by Saints goalkeeper Angus Gunn. Saints midfielder James Ward-Prowse had earlier been taken off on a stretcher after suffering a sickening gash to his leg. His team-mate Shane Long was caught on camera saying: “F*** me, you can see his bone!” Spurs thrived after Sunday’s win over Manchester City. Dele Alli said: “It says a lot about the character we have. To go from such a big game, it’s easy to lose a game like this.”
JOSE MOURINHO was brought in to deliver trophies – and his magic touch kept Tottenham on course for Wembley.
Son Heung-Min struck a late winner from the penalty spot to decide a thrilling FA Cup tie that Southampton hardly deserved to lose.
Tottenham boss Mourinho was bold with his substitutions as Dele Alli played a big role from the bench and new signing Gedson Fernandes also shone as Spurs staged a dramatic late fightback.
Mourinho has always taken the domestic cups seriously, winning the FA Cup with Chelsea and lifting the League Cup four times during his time at Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford.
Mourinho was brought to Tottenham to deliver the trophies that eluded Mauricio Pochettino. That explains why Tottenham had a full-strength side; Giovani Lo Celso was out with a thigh injury and it prompted Mourinho to tweak his line-up and also go with a back three.
Southampton’s only noticeable change was to bring in Angus Gunn for No1 goalkeeper Alex McCarthy as it was clear that Ralph Hasenhuttl wanted a cup run.
It was the visitors who started brightly with Nathan Redmond and Danny Ings going close early on but then Tottenham took a 12th-minute lead. Ryan Sessegnon made a break down the left, was about to pull the trigger and shoot when Saints defender Jack Stephens made a last-ditch tackle. The ball broke for Tanguy Ndombele, his shot hit Stephens and was deflected into the net. It was a lucky break for Tottenham but Saints did not drop their heads.
James Ward-Prowse’s ball down the line found Ings, the in-form striker smashed a shot against the bar and then Ryan Bertrand was also denied by a smart save from Hugo Lloris. Saints got their reward after 34 minutes when they levelled. Redmond’s shot was pushed out by Lloris and there was Shane Long to follow up and fire home from close range.
This was quickly developing into a top-quality cup tie but the visitors suffered a real blow when Ward-Prowse suffered a nastylooking gash after Sessegnon’s challenge, with Southampton’s makeshift right-back being taken off on a stretcher. Thankfully, there were no broken bones.
Southampton sub Jannik Vestergaard saw his header pushed over by Lloris as the visitors looked in control. Mourinho took decisive action, substituting JanVertonghen, who looked shell-shocked at being taken off for new signing Fernandes but it did not stem the tide.
Southampton went in front after 72 minutes with a brilliant goal. Redmond led a counter-attack, charged forward and fed Ings, who then cut inside before curling his 17th goal of the season into the bottom corner.
But the lead lasted just six minutes. Lucas Moura swapped passes with substitute Dele Alli and then Moura worked some space on the edge of the box before curling in a low shot.Ten minutes later, the turnaround was complete. Alli’s crossfield pass opened up the defence, Son raced forward and went down under Gunn’s challenge.
The contact looked minimal but the VAR checked and the penalty was given. Up stepped Son to fire home the spot-kick.