spurs vs charlton: Sávio scores on debut in 5-1 win
Sávio marked his Tottenham debut with a goal as Spurs beat Charlton 5-1 in the Carabao Cup. Mikey Moore, Dominic Solanke, Kevin Danso and Ben Davies also…
TOTtenham Hotspur beat Charlton Athletic 5-1 in the Carabao Cup, with new signing Sávio scoring on his debut at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The Brazilian forward struck twice late on after coming off the bench, while Mikey Moore, Dominic Solanke, Kevin Danso and Ben Davies also got on the scoresheet.
The result sent Spurs into round three and gave the club a much-needed lift after a difficult start to the season. It was also a rough night for Charlton, who were forced into two early substitutions after injuries to Collins Sichenje and Billy Koumetio.
Moore opens it, Solanke doubles it
Spurs had to wait until the 41st minute to break through. Moore drove inside, then lashed a left-footed strike in off the crossbar for Tottenham’s first goal of the new season.
They did not wait long for a second. Solanke finished after Charlton failed to deal with a corner, and the home side took control before the interval.
Charlton never really settled after the double blow. The visitors had already lost Sichenje on a stretcher with what was described as a potentially serious knee injury, and Koumetio also limped off, leaving them badly stretched before half-time.
Sávio makes a fast start
After the break, Tottenham kept pushing. Moore had already shown sharp footwork with a mazy run to start the second half, and Danso made it 3-0 with his first touch, nodding in Mateus Fernandes’ 67th-minute free kick.
Then came the moment the home crowd had been waiting for. Sávio, introduced in the 71st minute, scored his first goal for the club in the 82nd with a low effort into the bottom corner.
Three minutes later, he struck again. Fast feet. No hesitation.
He had already made an impact with a couple of eye-catching runs, and the finish underlined why Spurs moved quickly to complete the £85 ($116m) million signing from Manchester City on Tuesday.
Ben Davies added the fifth after getting the final touch, before Charlton grabbed a late consolation through Lloyd-Jones in the 88th minute. The scoreline stayed wide, though. Very wide.
What it means for Spurs
For Tottenham, the win matters for more than the bracket. It gave Roberto De Zerbi’s team a response after losing 3-0 to Brentford on the opening day of the season, and it offered a clean stage for a debutant to settle quickly in front of home supporters.
Spurs also showed more bite in a cup tie they had promised to treat seriously. Only five changes were made compared with Nathan Jones’ side, according to the ESPN report, and the match opened up once Tottenham’s tempo rose after a slow start.
Charlton, for their part, will have little time to dwell. The injuries changed the tone early, and by the time Sávio came off the bench, Spurs were already moving through the gears.
The final touch belonged to Davies, but the night belonged to Sávio. He scored his first goal in Tottenham colors, then scored again three minutes later.
