Spurs see off Norwich in Style to Secure Champions League Football

Sunday 22nd May 2022 - 4:00pm

Match Report

Norwich City 0 – 5 Tottenham Hotspur

Venue: Carrow Road Stadium, Norwich

Competition: English Premier League

"Pre-Match Thoughts – Spurs are in a surprisingly strong position following a whirlwind of a season. A draw against bottom placed Norwich will be enough for us to secure that precious last Champions League spot.

We have Conte to thank for the remarkable turnaround since the start of the season, and he'll be rightfully lauded for the achievement if he can steer us clear of a slip-up today and into Europe's elite competition.

We've had a week to prepare, we're in good form, I think we'll win 3-1."

Conte made a single change from the side that beat Burnley last week, as Kulusevski replaced Lucas Moura.

8' Kane picked up the ball in front of his own box. He fired a long curling pass down the right flank that a Norwich player tried to stop on halfway but could only get a touch on. Kulusevski raced onto it in a flash and carried it down the side of the area before cutting in and skipping past a Norwich defender. Looking up, he spotted Højbjerg in space in the top left of the box, the Dane touched it to his right then shot for the top right corner, but it flew over the bar.

Kulusevski started really brightly, he was busy getting on the ball making good use of it every time.

17' GOAL! Højbjerg launched a beautiful chipped ball over the top to Bentancur. Onside, he beared down on goal. It looked as if he was set to finish it himself, but he unselfishly nudged it to Kulusevski on his right who steered it into the bottom left corner. 1-0.

19' A threatening looking through ball almost created a huge chance for Norwich, but Ben Davies stepped in to cut it out.

22' Dier looked calm on the ball and went to seek out a pass from the back, it didn't go to plan, as he passed it straight to a Norwich man who ran into space on the edge of the box before drilling a shot a fraction wide of the right post. A big let off.

32' GOAL! Next Norwich were messing around with the ball at the back, and Kulusevski was quick to pressure keeper Tim Krul which caused him to send a panicked pass to the edge of his area that Bentancur intercepted and curled in a beautifully weighted cross first time that Kane met with a diving header into the bottom left corner. 2-0.

45' Davies found himself in reams of space around 35 yards out and opted to shoot. It was a powerful shot that swerved in the air, but it was too central and Krul managed to push it away.

46' Kane had a chance with a header in the middle of the box, but again it was too close to Krul who made the save.

"Thoughts at Half-Time – All smiles for Spurs so far. Kulusevski is back from illness with a bang, he scored within twenty minutes and put pressure on the keeper to force the error that led to Kane doubling our lead. Arsenal are 2-1 up against Everton, but as long as Spurs continue to dominate here, we'll be in the Champions League next season."

55' Bentancur found Kane, he thought about the shot but played in Son to his left instead. He got his shot away from a tight angle but Krul was there to save again.

60' Højbjerg found Royal on the right of the area, he slipped it to Kane who fizzed one low across goal. It was met by Son but Krul made another good save to deny Spurs finding a third.

63' Kulusevski raced through on goal, rounded the goalkeeper and looked certain to slot it into the empty net, but he awkwardly went for it with his right foot at the last and stumbled as he knocked it slowly towards goal. It gave a Norwich defender the chance to get back and clear it off the line.

64' GOAL! The Swede was quick to make up for it! Eye of the needle stuff from Kane as he threaded a sumptuous pass through two Norwich players to Kulusevski on the top corner of the box. He cut in onto his favoured left side and curled a sublime strike into the far top corner. What a goal! 3-0.

70' Son saw himself in on goal one-on-one having taken an excellent first touch. He looked certain to score but Krul made a strong diving save to deny him again.

70' GOAL! It was Son's turn to immediately make up for a miss. Kane played it into Moura who knocked it with the outside of his boot to Son who made no mistake this time, slotting it into the bottom right corner. 4-0.

76' GOAL! Moura sent in a free-kick from the right side. Kane's header was blocked and it was bought down by Son on the top corner of the area. He touched it inside onto that wand of a right boot before firing a sensational shot across goal, out of the reach of Krul and into the right side of the net. 5-0.

A special goal from Son, and it earnt him the award of joint top scorer of the Premier League this season with 23 goals. What a player!

"Thoughts at Full-Time – An emphatic victory to bring what's turned out to be a successful campaign to a close, Spurs finish fourth, two points ahead of rivals Arsenal, and it means we have the Champions League to look forward to next year. Lovely jubbly, credit to Conte. Let's hope he's backed in the transfer market this summer."

Tottenham Player Ratings

• 1. Hugo Lloris – 6 – Had barely anything to do. Another clean sheet to his name.

• 6. Davinson Sánchez – 8 – Another strong performance from him. He has really impressed since coming in for the injured Romero for the last three games.

• 15. Eric Dier – 7 – Got away with one in the first half when he played a pass straight to a Norwich man. Did well other than that.

• 33. Ben Davies – 8 – He has been so impressive this season. Put in another professional performance today and made some crucial blocks and interceptions in dangerous areas.

• 12. Emerson Royal – 7 – Did his duties defensively and played it simple when in attacking areas.

• 5. Pierre-Emile Højbjerg – 7.5 – Should have scored early on when he had a clear shot at goal. Battled away all game though and played some lovely passes forward, including one to Bentancur that lead to the opening goal.

• 30. Rodrigo Bentancur – 9 – Brilliant today. Dominated the midfield and laid on two assists, one for Kulusevski and one for Kane. Came off in the second half having seemingly taken a knock.

• 19. Ryan Sessegnon – 7 – Worked hard up and down the left flank. Did well defensively, not as involved in our attacking play as he has been of late.

• 21. Dejan Kulusevski – 9 – Great work to tee up Højbjerg early on. Put away the opener with a cool finish. Scored a second with a sublime curling effort into the top left corner.

• 7. Son Heung-min – 9 – Missed a good few chances but it was mainly down to Krul making a number of good saves. Eventually slotted away our fourth then smashed home the fifth with another amazing strike to add to his highlight reel. Deserves to be given the golden boot. Has to share it with Salah, who had many penalties to his name whereas Son has none.

• 10. Harry Kane – 8.5 – Did so well early on to send Kulusevski racing away down the right wing. Also had a few efforts saved by the busy Tim Krul. Headed in a perfectly placed diving header and set-up Kulusevski's second with a superb through ball.

Substitutions:

• 21. Dejan Kulusevski ⬅ 68' ➡ 27. Lucas Moura – 7 – Came on and assisted Son with a deft flicked pass.

• 30. Rodrigo Bentancur ⬅ 73' ➡ 8. Harry Winks – 6 – Helped see out the game that was already all but over.

• 12. Emerson Royal ⬅ 73' ➡ 23. Steven Bergwijn – 6 – Looked eager to get on the ball but not much fell his way.

Man of the Match – 7. Son Heung-min