Kane scores 20-minute hat-trick in big win over NS Mura - report and reaction

Two goals inside the opening eight minutes followed by a second-half hat-trick from Harry Kane ensured a convincing Group G win over NS Mura in the Europa Conference League on Thursday evening.

We made the perfect start against the Slovenian champions in the N17 rain, Dele Alli tucking home a penalty on four minutes having himself been tripped in the area by goalkeeper Matko Obradovic and a further four minutes on, Giovani Lo Celso smashed home from a tight angle to double our lead.

The visitors responded with a fine goal eight minutes into the second period, Ziga Kous hitting a superb 25-yard volley past Pierluigi Gollini, their first shot on target. We made a triple switch a soon after as Kane, Heung-Min Son and Lucas Moura replaced Dane Scarlett, Dele and Bryan Gil and it paid swift dividends as just a quarter-of-an-hour later, Lucas slid a ball in from the right flank for Kane, who tucked home for 3-1.

Then in the 77th minute, Son’s perfect cross from the left was slotted in by Kane, who completed his hat-trick two minutes from time as he latched onto Lo Celso’s neat pass to beat Obradovic again.

That was the 13th Spurs treble for Kane, our all-time leading marksman and appearance-maker in European competition, who took his Euro tally to 43 goals in 66 appearances.

Fast start leads to victory

With confidence perhaps a little low after Sunday’s defeat to Arsenal, we needed a fast start against a side which was playing in one of the biggest games in its short history and we got exactly that. NS Mura were only founded in 2013 but arrived in north London as Slovenian champions and were looking to capitalise on any hangover we might have had from Sunday’s result, but we never allowed that to happen with two goals inside eight minutes.

Three minutes had passed when Scarlett was tackled by Jan Gorenc on the edge of the area but Dele latched onto the ball and flicked it over Obradovic only to be brought down by the goalkeeper for a penalty. Dele stepped up and slammed home to the keeper’s right.

And it was 2-0 soon after, Harry Winks lifting the ball forwards, Lo Celso controlled and then held off the challenge of Matic Marusko as he broke into the area before slamming home left footed past Obradovic.

Nardin Mulahusejnovic sent a diving header just wide on 12 minutes with Mura’s sole chance of the first half as we bossed the game. Reguilon fired over from 25 yards, Dele’s right foot effort from just outside the area was parried away by Obradovic and he then headed Matt Doherty’s cross straight at the keeper shortly after, before our last chance of the half saw Oliver Skipp pounce on a loose pass out from the back and hitting a shot just wide of the far post.

Mura came out for the second period with more attacking impetus and scored a lovely goal on 53 minutes. Tomi Horvat’s corner was headed clear by Scarlett but only as far as Kous, who watched the ball all the way onto his boot and hit a sweet 25-yard volley that flew through a packed penalty box and into the back of Gollini’s net.

We had to ensure there was no comeback from the visitors and so Nuno Espirito Santo made the triple substitution just to wrestle back control of the game and it certainly worked as Kane took centre stage with his 20-minute hat-trick. Lucas set him up for the first with a smart ball which Kane poked home on the stretch, before Lo Celso played a first time pass down the left to set Son away, he evaded the sliding challenge of Marusko and delivered the perfect cross for Kane to convert. And Lo Celso turned provider himself in the 88th minute with a clever pass into the box and Kane made no mistake to round off a good evening’s work.

Dele spot on in 50th Euro game

Dele was making his 50th European appearance in our colours this evening. He became the fourth member of our current squad and the ninth Spur in history to reach that milestone.

We have now won each of our last eight home games in all European competitions (including qualifiers), keeping a clean sheet in six of the last seven. This is our longest such winning streak since April, 1974 (10 wins).

Head Coach Nuno made nine changes from the north London derby on Sunday, with only Reguilon and Dele retaining their places. Young striker Scarlett made his second senior start in our colours.

Reaction on Spurs TV

'Overall, a very good performance'

Nuno said afterwards: “I thought we played a good game. We started very strong and that was the idea, to start with a lot of energy, and the boys did well. The only period was at the start of the second half, but we reacted immediately after Mura scored. Overall, a very good performance, and important for players who work hard every day to have minutes on the pitch because we are going to need all of the squad."

Highlights on Spurs TV

Match data

Goals: Spurs – Dele 4 (pen), Lo Celso 8, Kane 68, 77, 88; Mura – Kous 53.

Yellow cards: Spurs – Skipp; Mura – Marosa, Obradovic.

Referee: Yigal Frid (Israel).

Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Weather: Light rain, moderate breeze, 15 degrees.

Attendance: 25,121.