SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2016 SPORTS Powerful Son keeps Spurs on the rise dismal way to mark their 250th Premier League game at the Riverside as Aitor Karanka’s team have Middlesbrough 1 dropped into the bottom six. They look equipped to sustain their challenge as they wasted no time stamping their authority on the game. Only a splendid save from Victor Valdes prevented Dele Tottenham 2 Alli putting them ahead in the sixth minute as the former Barcelona goalkeeper went to his left and turned over a 30-yard shot from the England inter- MIDDLESBROUGH: Son Heung-Min surely erased national. all doubts about his Tottenham future as his dou- ble inspired a 2-1 victory at Middlesbrough in the Exposed Premier League yesterday. South Korean winger Valdes was less impressive 60 seconds later, Son was reported to be unsettled after starting however, as he demonstrated why even his own only 13 league games for Tottenham last season, manager admits the 34-year-old is no longer as but his two goals in their latest success indicated good as in the days when he won three Champions the qualities that prompted them to sign him from League medals at the Nou Camp. It is true that the Bayer Leverkusen 13 months ago. keeper was left exposed by a defence that allowed Son’s goals came in the opening quarter of the Son to take a pass from Vincent Janssen inside the game as he built on his hugely impressive perform- area and turn away from two challenges before ance in last Sunday’s game against Sunderland-a producing a left-foot shot that Valdes touched but display that was described as “incredible” by the couldn’t keep out. former France international Thierry Henry. It was a moment that raised a question mark Middlesbrough, who slipped to their third succes- over Valdes, and also over Karanka’s decision to sive defeat after an encouraging start on their play Calum Chambers, the defender on loan from return to the top light, did hint at a revival when Arsenal, instead of Daniel Ayala, one of the most Ben Gibson scored midway through the second- reliable members of his usual back four. Chambers half, but Tottenham held on for a deserved success. was blameless, however, when Son added his sec- Mauricio Pochettino’s team climbed to second ond goal in the 23rd minute, but two of his team- MIDDLESBROUGH: Middlesbrough’s Calum Chambers (left) and Tottenham Hotspur’s Vincent in the table and they remain unbeaten in the mates were certainly culpable as Son wriggled Janssen in action during the English Premier League soccer match between Middlesbrough and league this season. For Middlesbrough, this was a clear after being trapped on the byline. — AFP Tottenham Hotspur at the Riverside Stadium in Middlesbrough yesterday. — AP Stanislas frustrates Everton points below leaders Manchester City. The two teams had played out a thrilling Bournemouth 1 encounter last November and this game began in no less frenetic fashion. Bournemouth striker Callum Wilson, depu- tizing for Joshua King, headed just wide Everton 0 from a Charlie Daniels cross inside the first minute. Romelu Lukaku, who started for Everton after overcoming a toe problem, BOURNEMOUTH: Junior Stanislas proved drew a full-stretch save from Artur Boruc Everton’s bogeyman for the second season with a downward header from Ross running as his stunning goal earned Barkley’s free-kick. Loanee Jack Wilshere Bournemouth a 1-0 Premier League win at went close to a first Bournemouth goal the Vitality Stadium yesterday. The former with a shot that flicked off Seamus West Ham United winger had netted a Coleman and hit the bar, while Harry Arter 98th-minute goal to earn Bournemouth a flashed a shot a fraction wide of the 3-3 draw in this fixture last season and he Everton goal. proved the difference again with a fine Bournemouth were looking the more long-range strike in the first half. threatening team, with Jordon Ibe’s pace His goal allowed Bournemouth to causing particular problems, and they bounce back from their League Cup elimi- took a 23rd-minute lead when Stanislas nation at the hands of second-tier Preston found the top corner with a 25-yard North End in mid-week as Eddie Howe’s screamer. Everton manager Koeman made side registered only a second win of the two midfield changes early in the second season. Victory would have given Ronald half, with Tom Cleverley and Gerard Koeman’s Everton-knocked out of the Deulofeu entering the fray in place of League Cup by Norwich City-their best Gareth Barry and Kevin Mirallas. But start to a league season since 1969, when Bournemouth held them at bay with rela- they finished the campaign as champions. tive ease, Bolasie firing a shot over the top But instead they fell to defeat for the first and substitute Enner Valencia kneeing time in the league this term, which saw wide late on with the few opportunities SUNDERLAND: Crystal Palace’s Christian Benteke (centre) celebrates with team mates after scoring his side’s third goal against Sunderland dur- them slip to fourth place in the table, five the visitors created. — AFP ingBenteke their English Premier League soccer match at The Stadium lifts of Light, Sunderland yesterday. — APPalace league success. Townsend, who scored his first goal for Palace in Alan Pardew’s side remained in eighth place last weekend’s 4-1 win over Stoke, sent a curling Sunderland 2 on 10 points, with Sunderland now footing the shot wide. Ten minutes after the restart Palace table on one point from a possible 18. Defoe was went close to an equalizer, Damien Delaney back for Sunderland after missing the midweek clearing a Sunderland free-kick in an attack that League Cup win over Queens Park Rangers with ended with Jason Puncheon’s 15 yard shot test- Crystal Palace 3 a calf strain. Left-back Patrick van Aanholt, ing keeper Jordan Pickford. After a vibrant pas- absent for last weekend’s league defeat to sage of play from the hosts Defoe bagged a sec- Tottenham due to the results of cardiology tests, ond with a neatly executed 12 yard shot on the SUNDERLAND: Christian Benteke’s stoppage also started. Palace were without injured hour. time header earned Crystal Palace a stirring 3-2 defender Scott Dann and winger Wilfried Zaha. A minute later and Ledley made amends for comeback win at hapless Sunderland yesterday. Sunderland boss David Moyes was forced to his first half mistake, the Wales international’s The Black Cats appeared set for their first win of make an early unscripted change when Steven low 20 yard effort taking a deflection off van the Premier League season after a double from Pienaar suffered a hamstring injury, with the vet- Aanholt on its way past Pickford. Pardew then Jermain Defoe. But goals inside the last half an eran South African replaced by Duncan replaced Martin Kelly with Zeki Fryers and the hour from Joe Ledley and James McArthur put Watmore. The Black Cats began hesitantly, with full back made an immediate and telling impact, Palace back level before Benteke popped up to their defense tested by Jason Puncheon and sending in a cross from the left wing for steal the show and earn Palace a third successive Andros Townsend. But it was the hosts who had McArthur to head in on 76 minutes. That put an the first decent chance against the run of play end to Moyes’ hopes of a first Premier League when van Aanholt sent a low cross into the box win since his then Manchester United won 4-0 at only for Defoe’s flick to go wide. On 39 minutes Newcastle in April 2014. Moyes’ afternoon went Matches on TV a clumsy 25 yard back pass by Palace midfielder from bad to worse as he watched Javier Ledley to his keeper proved calamitous, with Manquillo give away a free-kick by the corner, (Local Timings) Defoe pouncing to poke the ball past Steve with late substitute Lee Chung-Yong floating the BOURNEMOUTH: AFC Bournemouth goalkeeper Artur Boruc saves a shot on goal Mandanda. ball over for Benteke to head past Pickford in the during the English Premier League soccer match between AFC Bournemouth and ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE As a scrappy first period drew to a close fourth minute of time added on.— AFP Everton at the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth yesterday. — AP West Ham Utd v Southampton 18:00 beIN SPORTS 2 HD SPANISH LEAGUE Five-star Liverpool rout Hull as Coutinho shines CD Leganes v Valencia 13:00 beIN SPORTS 3 HD ing in front of Anfield’s new Main Stand for whether he will be appointed manager on a Liverpool, on the contrary, are going from Atletico v Deportivo 17:15 only the second time, did as they pleased permanent basis. But if the job should be strength to strength. A third successive league beIN SPORTS 3 HD Liverpool 5 almost from the start as they made it an made his, he will know he is in for a testing win underlined their credentials as a side Villarreal v Osasuna 19:30 unhappy 54th birthday for Hull’s caretaker season, with Hull having now taken just one capable of sustaining a challenge at the top beIN SPORTS 3 HD manager Mike Phelan. Phelan is still to learn point from their last four league games. end of the table. Espanyol v Celta de Vigo 21:45 beIN SPORTS 3 HD Hull City 1 Karius league debut Last season, before Klopp replaced ITALIAN LEAGUE Brendan Rodgers as manager, they scored Torino v AS Roma 13:30 LIVERPOOL: Jurgen Klopp disproved his own three goals in their opening six league games.