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SportsTottenham beat Auckland FC 2-0 in pre-season tour opener, set New Zealand men's football attendance record
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Tottenham Hotspur opened their pre-season tour with a 2-0 victory over A-League champions Auckland FC at Eden Park in New Zealand. Goals from Dane Scarlett in the 12th minute and Richarlison late in the second half secured the win. The match drew a record crowd of 40,112, the largest ever for a men's football match in New Zealand, surpassing the previous record of 37,034 set in 2017. Spurs coach Roberto De Zerbi rested most of his top players due to travel fatigue and injury concerns, giving opportunities to academy players and new signing Mateus Fernandes. Record signing Sandro Tonali was unavailable due to a minor injury. Tottenham, who narrowly avoided relegation last season, will continue their tour with matches in Sydney against Sydney FC and Chelsea.
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Richarlison celebrates after scoring the second goal for Tottenham at Eden Park. Photograph: Lynne Cameron/Tottenham Hotspur FC/Shutterstock
Tottenham Begin Tour with Victory Over Auckland FC in Front of Record Crowd
- Scarlett and Richarlison on target in Spurs’ 2-0 victory
- Biggest-ever crowd to watch men’s match in New Zealand
Dane Scarlett and Richarlison were on target as an under-strength Tottenham opened their pre-season tour with an entertaining 2-0 win over A-League champions Auckland FC on Sunday.
Spurs coach Roberto De Zerbi rested most of his top players as the Premier League side dominated a match played in damp conditions in front of a record Eden Park crowd. The 40,112 who packed into New Zealand’s famed rugby ground was the biggest to watch a men’s football match in New Zealand.
It surpassed the previous best of 37,034 for a New Zealand World Cup qualifying match against Peru in 2017. They were treated to a fast-paced contest, even if both sides were missing several of their best players.
Tottenham have embarked on an aggressive summer of spending after narrowly avoiding relegation last season, when they finished 17th. However, the only notable new signing to take the field was former West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes, who scored in the 1-0 win over MK Dons in London on Wednesday.
De Zerbi said he would ease others into the tour, with Tottenham to play games in Sydney next week against A-League side Sydney FC and London rivals Chelsea.
“It’s a chance for the young players,” De Zerbi told TVNZ before kick-off, declaring Brighton signing Jan Paul van Hecke and former Liverpool stalwart Andy Robertson not yet up to speed. “After a very long trip, we can’t take a risk with the players who are not ready to play yet.”
Record club signing Sandro Tonali wasn’t considered because the former Newcastle United midfielder had suffered an unspecified injury – “one small problem” – before the team left London, De Zerbi added.
Fernandes entered the game with half an hour remaining and Spurs bagged their second goal shortly afterwards through the work of two other substitutes. Mathys Tel burst into the box and set up a tap-in for seasoned forward Richarlison, who was omitted from Brazil’s World Cup squad.
Scarlett, one of several Spurs Academy players in action, opened the scoring in the 12th minute, pouncing after Auckland goalkeeper Michael Woud parried Manor Solomon’s shot.
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Tottenham begin tour with victory over Auckland FC in front of record crowd