Sports
ALL eyes had been on Tottenham’s new £65m striker as Spurs looked to show they had the firepower to battle for the top four, but instead it was a 37-year-old veteran who stole the limelight.
Dominic Solanke is the man Spurs hope will provide the goals that have been missing since Harry Kane’s departure to Bayern Munich last year, and while he was unable to provide the sort of impact he would have liked in Monday’s 1-1 draw with Leicester, there is plenty of time on his side.
The night belonged to a player who many would have considered his Premier League days to be behind him – Jamie Vardy.
After Pedro Porro gave Tottenham the lead in a first half they dominated, Vardy equalised with Leicester’s first attempt on target just before the hour mark, heading in a cross from close range.
Despite his advancing years, Vardy provided a reminder of his incredible talent in front of goal, something that seems to have improved with age, with this his 104th Premier League goal after the age of 30 – all of them for Leicester.
“I would imagine Vardy is Leicester’s greatest ever player,” former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher said on Sky Sports.
“He is a special footballer.”
The story of this game could have been very different if Tottenham had shown more sharpness in front of goal.
After a strong start last season, injuries hampered their bid to finish in the top four, but their lack of cutting edge at times also played a part.
That was the case in the opening 45 minutes at King Power Stadium, with Tottenham utterly dominant and creating opportunities, but simply failing to take them.
Solanke missed two, putting headers from decent positions straight at the goalkeeper.
But the former Bournemouth striker was taking up good positions and his team-mates were sometimes guilty of failing to make the most of that with some poor passing in the final third.
“They were so much in control, but you always feel like they can let you down and concede a goal,” added Carragher.
“It was like a pre-season friendly for them for the first half.”
Solanke was lethal for Bournemouth last season, scoring 19 goals in the Premier League, and it is far too early to be concerned by his failure to score in his first competitive appearance for Tottenham.
But with the hefty price tag comes pressure to deliver, and he will want a goal sooner rather than later to show that the investment can prove to be money well spent.
“This is a test for him,” former Manchester United defender Gary Neville said on Sky Sports.
“There will be moments. There were moments and big chances and he will be judged on moments like that. He needs to make sure he doesn’t beat himself up in the next few days.
“He probably should have had one or two, but he will get goals if he carries on doing that.”
Despite failing to build on their first-half dominance, Tottenham could have won the game in the final few seconds but finishing again let them down as Richarlison headed wide.
“It was a disappointing outcome for us,” Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou told BBC Sport.
“I thought we were excellent [in the] first half and controlled the game.
“We created chances and weren’t ruthless enough and wasteful at times, making poor decisions at other times, lacking composure. It’s stuff we need to fix. When you are so dominant you need to make sure it is reflected in the scoreline.”
Eight years ago Leicester were celebrating the fairytale of becoming Premier League champions, but this season the priority is to stay up.
They were promoted back to the top flight last term by winning the Championship, but title-winning manager Enzo Maresca left to join Chelsea and a possible points deduction for allegedly breaching profit and sustainability rules still looms.
Amid the change and uncertainty there is the constant of Vardy.
He was Leicester’s top scorer last season with 18 goals and could have had two on Monday night, but he saw a second-half effort saved after running clear.
That could have been attributed to rustiness, having barely featured in pre-season because of injury, but with Leicester boss Steve Cooper struggling for fit forwards to face Tottenham, Vardy stepped up.
“Three days ago we were without an experienced striker,” Cooper said. “He just showed so much desire to play. He did what he does.
“We know if we can get decent balls into the box we have the guy who can find some space. He got injured a month ago, has trained once really, and he goes and does that.” BBCSport
A.I
Aug. 20, 2024
Tags: Dominic Solanke Harry Kane Pedro Porro
