Son and Kane seal success in Skopje - match report and debrief

Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son were both on the scoresheet for the second game in succession as we eased through the third qualifying round of the Europa League in North Macedonia on Thursday evening.

The pair, who scored all five goals between them at Southampton five days ago, hit the decisive goals once again in our 3-1 triumph against KF Shkendija, Son making it 2-1 in the 70th minute before Kane’s header settled the contest with 10 minutes left. We had earlier made a dream start with the opening goal after just five minutes following an excellent move that cut open the hosts’ defence. It ended with Son finding Erik Lamela in space on the edge of the area and he took one touch before finishing neatly past Kostadin Zahov.

We dominated the first half and were well in control but were pegged back on 55 minutes when the home side scored with their first shot on target. Ljupche Doriev picked up possession and played a pass to Valjmir Nafiu, who took a touch and hit a rocket of a shot from 22 yards that flew past debutant Joe Hart.

Shkendija were buoyed by the goal and had a spell of pressure without really testing Hart, but we regained the lead in the 70th minute. Two substitutes combined with Giovani Lo Celso sliding a neat ball in to Lucas Moura who tested Zahov with an angled drive, his save landing at the feet of Son who lashed the ball into the roof of the net.

Four days ago at Southampton, it was Kane assisting Son for the goals but this time the South Korean international returned the compliment with 10 minutes remaining, sending over a perfect cross for Kane – who had also come on as a second-half substitute - to head back across goal and past Zahov to make it 3-1.

The victory sets up a first home match in this season’s Europa League as we now face Maccabi Haifa in the play-off round at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium next Thursday, after the Israeli outfit beat Rostov 2-1 in Russia earlier on Thursday.

Subs settle the issue

After such a dominant first half, we were rocked by Shkendija’s equaliser and with such a busy schedule of games at the moment, Head Coach Jose Mourinho didn’t want the burden of extra time.

As well as Lamela’s opening goal, captain on the night Toby Alderweireld headed just wide on 26 minutes, Dele Alli was denied by Zahov from close range and then saw a fierce drive from 20 yards deflected just wide before Serge Aurier headed the resulting corner just the wrong side of the post as we controlled the contest.

Lamela’s left-foot drive at the start of the second half tested Zahov again and a second goal looked the most likely outcome until Nafiu’s bolt from the blue levelled it up.

That prompted the boss to send on fresh legs in the shape of Kane, Lo Celso and Lucas for Dele, Harry Winks and Steven Bergwijn in a bid to regain control of the game and it worked. With 20 minutes left, Lo Celso’s probing ball allowed Lucas to fire in a shot with the rebound falling for Son to convert and Kane’s header 10 minutes later put the game beyond our hosts.

Hart’s winning debut

New signing Hart made his Spurs debut on Thursday, one of six changes to the side from Sunday’s victory at Southampton. The former Burnley and Manchester City keeper replaced Hugo Lloris, while Aurier, Alderweireld, Dele, Lamela and Bergwijn started for Matt Doherty, Eric Dier, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Kane and Lucas.

It was his first game since an FA Cup tie for Burnley against Norwich City in January and his first European appearance for over two years since lining up for the Clarets against Turkish side Basaksehir in the Europa League in August, 2018.

Thursday’s game took place at the National Arena Todor Proeski in Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia, around 35 miles from where Shkendija are based in Tetovo. The club had to switch venues as their ground did not meet UEFA requirements. Having finished third in their league last season, this was Shkendija’s third qualifying game in the competition, winning away against teams in Azerbaijan and Romania to get to this stage.

Reaction on Spurs TV

'Job done', says Jose

Following the full-time whistle, Jose Mourinho said: “After their goal, we had to react. I reacted on the bench, the players reacted on the pitch and we scored two goals to win it. Before that, we had headers from Harry and Coco centimetres away, so no doubt we deserved to win.

“It’s not a moment for great performances, the Bulgarian game or this one, no, it’s job done and now one less match, finally at home, to get into the group phase.”

Match data

Goals: Shkendija – Nafiu 55; Spurs – Lamela 5, Son 70, Kane 80.

Yellow cards: Shkendija – Bejtullai; Spurs - Winks.

Referee: Ali Palabiyik (Turkey).

Venue: National Arena Todor Proeski, Skopje.

Weather: Clear night, 20 degrees.