Singapore Festival of Football: Tottenham's depth was key in 5-1 win over Sailors

SINGAPORE — One team is trying to shake off the rustiness of early pre-season. The other is taking a break from their title-chasing bid midway through their domestic season.

That could explain why English Premier League mainstays Tottenham - merely weeks into their build-up for the next season - had to huff and puff before coming from behind for a 5-1 win against Singapore Premier League club Lion City Sailors in the Festival of Football opener at National Stadium on Wednesday (26 July).

Fans online had been talking up an easy stroll for Spurs against the overmatched Sailors, who were not even slated to play this match until earlier this month, when Italian side Roma pulled out of the pre-season event.

But the Sailors have been in the thick of league action since February, and their match fitness and tactical awareness were evident as they defended as one unit and counterattacked with purpose.

In contrast, Tottenham players looked as if they were still trying to tune into one another's tendencies, as well as adapt to new manager Ange Postecoglou's brand of football. Crosses went awry, passes lack bite, and players ran into one another as they tried too hard to force the issue.

However, Postecoglou did not sound too downcast at the post-match media conference, stressing that his side are grateful to get matches under their belt during pre-season, particularly after their scheduled friendly against Leicester in Bangkok was rained out on Sunday.

"We knew going in today that we weren't as sharp, but attitude and endeavour was okay," the Australian said during the media conference.

"We're trying to implement the stuff we've been working on. And from that point of view, that's the nice thing for me, maybe we didn't have the legs but the desire was there."

Shawal Anuar stuns crowd with opener for Sailors

Indeed, it was not until the Sailors took off their first-string players for the second half that the gulf in abilities showed, as Tottenham scored four opportunistic goals to put some sheen on the scoreline.

But it was a mighty slog for the north London club in the first half, even though they started their famed strike duo Harry Kane and Son Heung-min.

Their fans were stunned in the 14th minute when the Sailors launched their first counterattack, and scored. Belgian import Maxime Lestienne - outstanding all season long - launched a dangerous cross from the right flank, which found a lurking Shawal Anuar.

The Singapore national striker, who has been a bright spark amid the Lions' recent struggles, made no mistake with a crisp shot from close range. Cheers rang out from the modest Sailors fans section, as well as a sizeable section of Spurs fans amid the 25,095-strong crowd, delighted by the local side trying to put a spanner in the works.

"I think he'll have trouble sleeping tonight," quipped Sailors head coach Aleksander Rankovic when asked how Shawal was feeling after his goal.

"He was up against a central defender who had just won the World Cup (Argentina's Cristian Romero). For him, a great moment, and it could boost his confidence so that we may benefit when we start our AFC Champions League campaign."

The Serbian coach would have been very pleased with his charges for their disciplined first-half performances, as Tottenham found little going for them, even as Kane, James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski came close with several half chances.

It was not until first-half stoppage time when the Sailors' resistance was finally broken, after midfielder Pape Matar Sarr was tripped in the box. Up stepped Kane to confidently slot the penalty home, for the last kick of the first half.

Squad depth proved key for Tottenham

Both sides made wholesale changes after half-time, and unsurprisingly, Tottenham's squad depth proved to be the key to their eventual victory.

Substituting Kane was Brazilian international Richarlison, who proved to be an incessant thorn among the overstretched Sailors defence as he helped himself to a hat-trick - with all three goals the result of his opportunism.

He was at the right place to slot home for his first in the 48th minute, then pressured the Sailors into error for his second on 52nd minutes, before ending his night with the match ball with a crisp goal in stoppage time.

Argentinian midfielder Giovani lo Celso also scored with a fine run into the box in the 73rd minute, as the Spurs fans could relax and enjoy their team lifting the Tiger Cup trophy for winning the match.

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