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"We're not robots." Tottenham captain Son Heung-min, who publicly expressed his concerns about players' overwork, was replaced after failing to play the Karabakh match until the end.
Son Heung-min was replaced by Timo Werner in the 26th minute of the second half when his team led 3-0 in the first round of the European Europa League (UEL) league phase of the 2024-2025 season against Karabakh at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on the 27th (Korea time).
Not long after helping Dominic Solanke score in the 23rd minute of the second half, he slumped on the floor. While sitting down, he also took out the captain's armband. an injury-prone situation. Fortunately, Son got up on his own and walked to the bench.
Tottenham manager Engie Postecoglou seems to have brought Son Heung-min, who appeared to be tinkering with his thighs in the previous scene, to the bench to prevent injury. There was no need to leave a key striker, Son Heung-min, because the game was already in a downward spiral.
Son Heung-min has started all five Premier League games since the opening of this season, and has started in all four other games except one game against Leicester City. Son Heung-min, who played as a substitute in the second half of the Cup against Coventry Town on the 18th, played 549 minutes and an average of 78.4 minutes in seven games so far.
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Son Heung-min, who helped Brentford win 3-1 by scoring two assists in the fifth round of the league on the 21st, entered the European club competition in six days.
Moreover, center back Radu Dragusin, who started for the first time in a long time, was directly sent off in the eighth minute of the first half for a clear attack blocking (holding) foul against the opponent's striker, and played for about 63 minutes. Son Heung-min, who played as a left-side striker, had no choice but to focus on joining the defense rather than attacking.
Coach Postecoglou adjusted the lineup in consideration of the league schedule, but the offense remained the same. Son Heung-min, Solanke and Brennan Johnson set up a three-top. Pape Sarr, Yves Bissouma and Lucas Verbal made up the midfield, while Archie Gray, Dragushin, Mickey van der Penn and Ben Davies made the four backs. Gianluigi Vicario defended the goal. James Maddison, Destiny Udogi, Pedro Porro and Dejan Kulusevski were on the bench.
A major issue broke out in the first eight minutes. Tottenham came to the other side except for one defender and took the offensive. Van der Penn connected a back pass to Dragosin at the back. However, Dragushin lost the ball to Juninho. Dragushin caught Juninho amid a sense of crisis over the first run due to an instant counterattack. The referee ordered a direct exit, judging that it was a clear blocking of the attack.
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Tottenham's bench immediately took out midfielder Berbal and put in full-back Udo-gi. Tottenham, who turned 10, quickly scored the first goal. In the 12th minute, Solanke, who blocked the ball from the other side, poked a pass to Johnson on the right side of the box. Johnson, who connected Son Heung-min's assist to a man-made goal of the season against Brentford, scored two consecutive goals with a calm right-footed shot and the first goal of the day.
Tottenham lost the ball in the first minute of extra time when Ben Davies was behind pass, but Vicario emptied the goal and ran out to block the ball to overcome the crisis.
Postecoglou put in Kulusevski without Johnson at half-time. In the eighth minute of the second half, an extra goal was scored. Kulusevski's corner kick hit the opponent's goalkeeper's hand in front of the gate and Sarr pushed the ball back with a non-stop right-footed volley.
In the 13th minute of the second half, Tottenham, who did not allow a pursuit due to Byramov's penalty missed, scored a net in the 23rd minute of counterattack. Son Heung-min's sharp right-footed shot was blown away by the opponent's goalkeeper, but he couldn't stop Solanke's rebound shot. It was recorded as an assist from Son Heung-min.
In the 26th minute of the second half, Son Heung-min and Bissouma were replaced by Werner and Bentancourt, respectively. Son Heung-min seems to have felt a thigh strain after shooting. Son Heung-min has been silent for five consecutive games, including the cup. In the 39th minute of the second half, Mickey Moore replaced Solanke on the ground. Tottenham, who played with 10 players, secured three goals and finished their first Europa League match with a complete victory.
yoonjinman@sportschosun.com
