Kane scores late double to give Spurs win over Villa

Sharp goal earns Sheffield United point at Bournemouth

LONDON, Aug 10, (RTRS): Harry Kane struck two late goals as Tottenham Hotspur recovered from an early setback to beat promoted Aston Villa 3-1 in their opening match of the Premier League season on Saturday.

Villa, back in the top flight after three seasons away, stunned the home faithful in the ninth minute when John McGinn scored with their first attack.

It seemed Dean Smith’s side would mark their return with a notable victory as they hung on tenaciously until the 73rd minute.

Tottenham were laboured in a disappointing first half but were relentless after the break and record signing as they earned a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth on Saturday.

With the visitors showing no sign of nerves despite their lack of Premier League experience, the game was played at a blistering pace, with David McGoldrick fluffing a chance to put Sheffield United ahead in the opening minute.

After finishing 14th last season, Bournemouth made their Premier League experience tell with a wellworked free kick in the second half, defender Chris Mepham firing home as the Blades defence failed to clear.

With eight minutes left to play coach Chris Wilder summoned Sharp from the bench and the striker, who was United’s top scorer in the Championship last season with 23 goals, stabbed home the equaliser in the 88th minute.

Ryan Fraser had a chance to win it in stoppage time for the home side, but he missed the target with his free kick.

Meanwhile Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil and Sead Kolasinac, who escaped

Tottenham’s Dav Sanchez (left), duels for the ball with Aston Villa’s Neil Taylor during the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham and Aston Villa at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Aug 10. (AP)

unhurt after an attempted carjacking last month, are not in the squad for the team’s Premier League opener at Newcastle United due to “further security incidents”, the club said on Friday.

“Ozil and Kolasinac will not be part of the squad for our opening match against Newcastle following further security incidents which are being investigated by the police,” an Arsenal spokesman told Reuters via email.

Former Germany international midfielder Ozil was the target of an attempted robbery when he was driving his black Mercedes in North London on July 25.

His car was boxed in by motorbike riders wearing helmets and a video clip later emerged online showing Bosnian defender Kolasinac, who was a passenger, outside the vehicle and confronting the attackers.

“We’re liaising with the police and are providing the players and their families with ongoing support,” added the Arsenal spokesman.

Jose Mourinho has taken up a role as an analyst with Sky Sports before a potential return to management and his first assignment during the Premier League season will be Sunday’s clash between former teams Manchester United and Chelsea.

The Portuguese, who has been out of a job since being sacked by United in December last year, joins a panel that includes the likes of Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher, Graeme Souness and Jamie Redknapp, broadcaster Sky said.