Football News, FA Cup third round - Seventh heaven for Tottenham as Tranmere are thrashed
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ByEurosport
Updated 04/01/2019 at 22:07 GMT
FA Cup Third Round, Prenton Park - Tranmere Rovers 0 Tottenham 7 (Aurier 40, 55, Llorente 48, 71, 72, Son 57, Kane 82)
Fernando Llorente
Image credit: Getty Images
Fernando Llorente scored a hat-trick as Tottenham thumped League Two side Tranmere Rovers 7-0 to reach the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Serge Aurier broke the deadlock with a deflected shot from 25 yards with his first goal since March 2018, before Spurs scored three quick-fire goals at the start of the second half as the gulf in class showed.
Llorente put the tie beyond Rovers when defender Emmanuel Monthe missed his tackle on Son Heung-Min allowing the Spaniard to score a simple tap-in.
The South Korean - one of only three players to retain his position from the Tottenham team that won at Cardiff - then set up Aurier for his second before helping himself to a goal of his own making, dribbling past two defenders before stroking the ball into the far corner.
Llorente completed his hat-trick with two goals in as many minutes before Harry Kane came on to complete the rout with a deft finish as Tranmere fell apart.
TALKING POINT - How much will Spurs miss Son?
The South Korean is arguably Tottenham's best player at the moment and he produced another fine performance, registering two assists and scoring his ninth goal in 10 games before he was substituted, as Pochettino looked towards the Carabao Cup semi-final with Chelsea on Tuesday night.
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Tottenham's Son Heung-min scores their fourth goal
Image credit: Reuters
The classy wideman will play his final game for Tottenham against Manchester United on January 13 before setting off to play in the Asian Cup with his country - and he could miss up to five matches because of the competition in the United Arab Emirates. It begs the question: just how much will Tottenham miss the forward? Will his absence finally persuade the board that the club needs more strength in depth?
MATCH OF THE MATCH - Son Heung-Min (Tottenham)
Llorente will steal the headlines for his hat-trick but it was Son who was the real star of the show. The 26-year-old encapsulated everything positive about Tottenham's performance. Every time he picked up the ball he wanted to make things happen. Tranmere simply couldn't deal with his direct running, pace, movement, trickery and determination.
PLAYER RATINGS
Tranmere Rovers: Davies 6, Ellis 5, McNulty 4, Monthe 4, Caprice 4, Harris 4, McCullough 5, Gilmour 5, Ridehalgh 4, Norwood 5, Jennings 5. Subs: Mullin N/A, Banks 5.
Tottenham: Gazzaniga 5, Aurier 8, Foyth 7, Sanchez 6, Davies 6, Walker-Peters 6, Skipp 8, Alli 8, Lucas 8, Son 9, Llorente 8. Subs: Eyoma 5, Marsh 5, Kane 7.
KEY MOMENTS
40' - GOAL! Tranmere 0-1 Tottenham: The hosts fail to clear a corner convincingly and Norwood can't hold it up. Aurier nips in and then blasts an unstoppable shot from 25 yards with the outside of his foot, leaving Davies in the Tranmere goal rooted to the spot as it curls into the top corner.
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Serge Aurier of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates after scoring his team's third goal during the FA Cup Third Round match between Tranmere Rovers and Tottenham Hotspur at Prenton Park on January 4, 2019 in Birkenhead, United Kingdom. (
Image credit: Getty Images
48' - GOAL! Tranmere 0-2 Tottenham: Llorente doubles Tottenham's advantage with just his second goal of the season! Credit to Son, however, as the South Korean international broke into space on the flank and set the Spanish striker up on a plate with a squared pass across the face of goal. Pochettino's side have one foot in the fourth round of the cup.
55' - GOAL! Tranmere 0-3 Tottenham: He hadn't scored in 299 days - and now Aurier has two in one night! A lovely Cryuff turn from Son opens up the space and then he rolls it across the left side of the box for the wing-back. He side-foots it towards goal, Davies gets a hand to it but can't keep it out.
57' - GOAL! Tranmere 0-4 Tottenham: Son grabs the goal his performance deserves and this is turning into a rout! The South Korean races towards goal, twists and turns past two defenders before slotting the ball past the goalkeeper.
71' - GOAL! Tranmere 0-5 Tottenham: Llorente increases Tottenham's advantage - and now he is on his hat-trick! He times his run to perfection to latch onto Skipp's amazing through-pass and finishes with aplomb. Spurs could net six, seven, eight or nine goals tonight.
72' - GOAL! Tranmere 0-6 Tottenham: Llorente bags his hat-trick! Dear me. Two goals in two minutes from the Spanish striker! Moura crosses from the left and he pokes home from point-blank range.
82' - GOAL! Tranmere 0-7 Tottenham: There it is, Kane grabs his inevitable goal. A delightful pass from Alli releases the talisman, he allows the ball to run across his body before chipping the ball over the on-rushing Davies.
KEY STATS
- Son Heung-Min has been directly involved in 12 goals in his last six games for Tottenham in all competitions (seven goals, five assists), as many as he was in his previous 31 combined prior to this.
- Serge Aurier scored his first goal for Tottenham Hotspur since netting against Bournemouth in the Premier League in March 2018, 299 days ago.
- Aurier scored as many goals against Tranmere (two) as he had in his first 35 appearances for Tottenham in all competitions combined before this victory.
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