Koreans in Europe: Son Heung-min scores late winner as Spurs beat Luton 2-1

Football

Published: 31 Mar. 2024, 09:54 Updated: 31 Mar. 2024, 15:24

Koreans in Europe: Son Heung-min scores late winner as Spurs beat Luton 2-1

Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min celebrates after scoring during a Premier League match against Luton Town at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Saturday. [EPA/YONHAP]

Son Heung-min smashed in a late winner to carry Tottenham Hotspur to a 2-1 win over Luton Town at home on Saturday, carving out another spot in the Spurs’ history books as he takes the No. 5 spot on the club’s all-time top scorer list.

Spurs fell behind almost instantly at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in north London, conceding an opener to Luton’s Tahith Chong in the third minute to find themselves down 1-0 to a club battling for relegation.

Luton held that lead throughout the first half, with the playing field only leveled when the visitors’ Issa Kabore turned Brennan Johnson’s cross into his own net for an own goal that made it 1-1.

Spurs went on the offensive, hammering shots at the Luton goal but repeatedly failing to get past some plucky defense and goalkeeper Alfie Doughty.

Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-Min, second from left, scores his sides second goal during a Premier League match against Luton Town at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Saturday. [AP/YONHAP]

Son finally broke through in the 86th minute, firing in a shot after a good pass from Johnson to put the home side ahead. It was Son’s 15th goal of the season and his 160th in a Spurs shirt.

That goal briefly lifted Spurs up to fourth place on the Premier League table, although Aston Villa have now regained the spot after a 2-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers. Spurs remain within striking distance though, trailing by three points with what could prove to be a crucial game in hand.

“We made the game very difficult for ourselves after conceding a disappointing goal,” said Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou after the game. “There’s a lot of anxiety around the place because every match means so much at this stage of the season but I thought the lads handled it really well.”

Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min greets a young pitch invader and the end of a Premier League match against Luton Town at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Saturday. [AFP/YONHAP]

The goal also lifted Son above Cliff Jones on the Tottenham top scorer list, putting him in fifth place and just 14 goals shy of Martin Chivers in fourth. Former teammate Harry Kane leads the list with 280 goals.

"I hadn't even realised how many goals I'd scored," Son said after the game.

"Playing for one club for almost 10 years is an incredible feeling and a big honor for me. I want to thank everyone who played with me and coached me for their big effort."

Postecoglou also weighed in on the milestone.

“I think the thing about Sonny is that irrespective of opposition or whatever game it is, he has this really high level of expectation on himself to be the best he can be all the time,” Postecoglou said. “It's very hard to be like that. It's a lot easier to try and get comfortable in the state of being as a person or as a player because he's done so much already.

“But he wants to maintain the highest possible standards whenever he plays, and when you see that with his football, his efforts, his leadership now so it's all encompassing. Look, he's been a brilliant footballer for this club for a long time and hopefully for many years to come, and again I thought he was really unlucky with a couple of chances and some good saves.

“But when we needed him he was there and got the job done.”

Son will not have to wait long for the chance to extend that record as Spurs will be back in action on Tuesday on the road at London rivals West Ham. Spurs will then host Nottingham Forest at home the following Sunday.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]