Tottenham 3-0 LASK: Carlos Vinicius shines on debut as Spurs end the week on a high

Spurs dominated the game and remained comfortable throughout the ninety minutes without too many real threats from the Austrians side.

By Daniel Huggins22 October 2020 19:59 BST

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 22: Heung-Min Son of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates after scoring his sides third goal Carlos Vinicius Alves Morais of Tottenham Hotspur during the UEFA Europa League Group J stage match between Tottenham Hotspur and LASK at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 22, 2020 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Tottenham Hotspur put their weekend woes behind them with a comfortable 3-0 victory over LASK to send them to the top of Group J in the Europa League, thanks to goals from Lucas Moura, Heung-Min Son, and an own goal from Andres Andrade.

Gareth Bale made his full debut for a second time as a Spurs player, and played a key role in the second goal for his side, sending in a delicious cross which forced Andrade into putting the ball in his own net.

Lucas and Son grabbed the other two either side of the own-goal and were both supplied by the impressive debutant Carlos Vinicius - who also created another two clear-cut chances which were missed by Erik Lamela and Dele Alli.

Story of the game

The game started with a slow and sloppy period from both teams - the only chances in the first fifteen-minute a Carlos Vinicius header and a Husein Balic strike, with neither troubling either keeper.

Lucas Moura opened the scoring in the 18th minute largely thanks to a fantastic run from debutant Carlos Vinicius, who controlled brilliantly before sliding the ball across the box for his fellow Brazilian to tuck past the keeper.

The second goal came less than ten minutes later, after Sergio Reguilon's fantastic run created space for Gareth Bale, whose cross was turned into the net by LASK defender Andres Andrade.

Spurs could have had a third seconds later when LASK lost the ball from the kick-off and were caught sleeping with Erik Lamela running straight down the middle - his shot just about kept out by keeper Alexander Schlager.

The tempo of the game slowed down after the opening two goals, but LASK almost managed to get themselves back into the game just before half-time when Andreas Gruber had his top corner bound strike from distance saved fantastically by Joe Hart.

Lamela had another opportunity at the start of the second half after more fantastic work from Carlos Vinicius who won the ball back before feeding the Argentinean who dragged his shot just wide of the post.

A triple substitution was on the table for Spurs around the hour mark when Dele Alli, Heung-Min Son, and Moussa Sissoko all came on in place of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Gareth Bale, and Erik Lamela.

Carlos Vinicius again got himself in the thick of it, controlling the ball with four defenders around him and managing to slide through Dele Alli - the Englishman opted to slide the ball under Schlager, who's touch slowed the ball down enough for him to gather before trickling over the line.

The Brazilian did manage to get a second assist of the game as he was found peeling off his defender before heading the ball down to Son who finished into the bottom corner in the same fashion he has done so often for Spurs.

Jack Clarke also made his Spurs debut late into the game, and almost got a goal too when he was found free at the back post - his effort flashing agonizingly past the top corner, keeping Spurs at just 3-0 where they saw the game out at that scoreline.

Man of the match - Carlos Vinicius

It was a stand-out performance from the Benfica loanee, who capped his performance off with two assists - and was very unlucky to not grab two more.

His hold-up play, first touch, and vision were exceptional and some might say he displayed shades of Harry Kane with his top-notch chance creation.

The next step now for the striker is to prove his ability in the Premier League, which is a difficult ask with Son and Kane in the form that they are in.