Tottenham Hotspur bounced back in the Champions League with a convincing 3-0 home win over Slavia Prague, restoring confidence after their 5-3 defeat to holders Paris St-Germain in their previous group fixture.
The victory also builds on the morale boost they gained from their recent Premier League triumph against Brentford.
The game took an early turn in Spurs’ favor when Slavia defender David Zima misjudged a header, redirecting Cristian Romero’s flick from Pedro Porro’s corner into his own net in the 26th minute.
Spurs doubled their lead shortly after the break through a penalty, as Mohammed Kudus converted emphatically following a reckless challenge on Porro by Youssoupha Sanyang.
The home side sealed the win late on when Xavi Simons scored from the spot after being fouled by Igoh Ogbu.
The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was alive with emotion ahead of the clash, as Son Heung-min returned to the club for the first time since joining Los Angeles FC in the summer.
Receiving a rapturous welcome, Son, who scored 173 goals in 454 appearances and captained Spurs in his farewell Europa League triumph over Manchester United, addressed the fans in a touching pre-match moment.
On the pitch, Richarlison came close to opening the scoring in the early stages but was denied by a sharp save from Slavia keeper Jindrich Stanek.
Spurs’ dominance was clear despite the somewhat fortuitous nature of the opener, and they might have extended their lead further if not for Stanek’s heroics, particularly his double save from substitutes Mathys Tel and Pape Sarr.
Manager Thomas Frank will take encouragement from the performance, as Spurs continue their push for a top-eight finish in the group and aim to secure a place in the Champions League last 16 without the need for a play-off.
Currently sitting ninth, they are just one point behind five teams tied on 12 points. However, the night was not without concern, as defender Micky van de Ven received a yellow card, ruling him out of Spurs’ next group game against Borussia Dortmund.
Slavia, meanwhile, remain on three points and face a steep challenge to progress, needing victories in their remaining fixtures starting with Barcelona to keep their hopes alive.
