Spurs edge Sydney FC 1-0

 

Sydney FC discovered why England's just wild about Harry when Tottenham golden boy Harry Kane put the Sky Blues to the sword before a bumper crowd of over 71,500 at Sydney's ANZ Stadium on Saturday night.

Kane just can't seem to stop scoring, and the 21-year-old striker delivered the goods yet again with the only goal as Spurs downed Sydney FC 1-0 in front of a gate twice as big as they are used to at their White Hart Lane home in London.

Sydney FC saw for themselves why Kane, still fresh after a 31-goal season, is England's young player of the year and looms as his country's great white hope in front of goal.

After a procession of chances went begging and halftime approached, Kane made no mistake when prompted into the clear by teammate Erik Lamela.

It was one touch and bang as Kane fired a rasping, low drive past the outstretched hand of Ivan Necevski, ruining the Sydney FC goalkeeper and stand-in captain's farewell match after a club record eight-year stint.

Kane had also scored both goals in Tottenham's win in Malaysia on the way to Australia.

He came close to making it another double when fancy footwork won him the space for a shot that was cleared off the line by Sebastian Ryall.

Kane played almost the entire game before manager Mauricio Pochinetto substituted him after 84 minutes.

Until Kane struck the decisive blow, Spurs had promised plenty but delivered precious little.

Chance after chance went awry as Tottenham's big names misfired in front of goal.

Argentine midfielder Lamela headed over the bar, then failed with a fancy chip that looked more like a party trick.

Danish playmaker Christian Eriksen spurned a clear-cut chance when he ballooned the ball over the bar.

Kane himself tried an early drive that failed to test Necevski, then found his first touch missing when he got on the end of a through ball, and later fluffed his lines when he failed to connect cleanly with a low, hard cross.

But despite all the dominance, the best chance of the first half fell to Sydney FC striker Alex Brosque when a defensive mix-up gifted him an open run to goal.

He danced past goalkeeper Hugo Lloris but with the goal at his mercy fired a tame shot which allowed Belgian defender Jan Vertonghen to stick out his left leg and clear off the line.

The beaten A-League grand finalists face an even sterner test on Tuesday night when they take on newly crowned EPL champion Chelsea.