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Tottenham Hotspur continued their unbeaten start to the season, with a 2-1 victory over newly promoted Middlesbrough.
For the second away game running, South Korean international Heung-Min Son struck a brace, which turned out to be enough to win the three points.
The opener arrived after seven minutes thanks to strong hold up play from summer signing, Vincent Janssen, who timed his releasing of the ball to perfection, allowing Son to leave debutant loanee, Calum Chambers, tackling thin air as the ball was placed beyond Victor Valdes and into the bottom corner.
It didn’t take long for Son to double his tally, with a superb strike similar to his goal against Stoke City. The chance looked to have gone, after Janssen had once again fed the ball into Son’s feet. The winger drove to the byline and cut back, before dribbling to the edge of the 18 yard box and unleashing a stunning effort into the far corner.
Spurs should have had the opportunity to extend their lead further, when Dele Alli was brought down in the box by Cristhian Stuani. Referee Graham Scott taking charge of only his third Premier League game, should have pointed to the spot.
Alli was again involved shortly after, and should have done better with an effort that sailed over the bar. Chambers was caught in possession by Eriksen, who found Alli unmarked in the box. With the onrushing Valdes closing him down, the England international lacked composure with his finish.
Spurs headed into the break looking good value for their two-goal advantage.
The second half began in the same vain as the first, with the visitors having more of the ball, but couldn’t find the elusive third goal. A double change on the hour mark from the hosts saw the introduction of Adama Traore and Jordan Rhodes, with the former making an instant impact.
Traore’s first involvement got the home fans on their feet, after he glided past a couple of challenges with pace, only to overhit the pass to Rhodes. Still, The Riverside’s hopes had been refreshed.
With the rejuvenated crowd behind them, Boro pulled one back on the 65th minute. Downing whipped in an inch-perfect free kick from the left, which was met by the head of Ben Gibson, who powered a header past Lloris.
The momentum was now with the home side, as Traore again looked to run at the Tottenham defence. Another overhit pass failed to lower the volume inside the stadium, as the home side kept pushing for an equaliser.
A third Tottenham goal looked unlikely, as the two goal Son ran the clock down by the corner flag. five minutes were added on, but it wasn’t to be Boro’s day, as they suffered their third straight defeat. Meanwhile, Spurs now sit in second, having started the season unbeaten for the first six games, for the first time ever in the Premier League.
It was a game that Tottenham never looked like losing, with the only negative factor being the inability to kill the game off and put themselves out of sight.
Next up for Spurs is a home game against leaders, Manchester City, which will see the last remaining unbeaten records come up against each other. Meanwhile, Middlesbrough travel to London Stadium to play West Ham, hoping to prevent a fourth straight defeat.
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