Tottenham secured a penalty shootout victory against Sydney FC following a 1-1 draw in a pre-season friendly. The match, held in Sydney, saw Mathys Tel open the scoring for Spurs with a free-kick, before Takahiro Sekine equalised for the A-League side.
Tel’s goal came in the 29th minute from 25 yards out, finding the top-right corner. However, Sydney FC responded after half-time. During the penalty shootout, Martin Dubravka made a save, allowing Dane Scarlett to score the winning penalty for Tottenham.
Player Performances and Manager’s Comments
Mathys Tel, who recently joined Tottenham permanently in a £30m deal from Bayern Munich, delivered a notable 45-minute performance from the left wing. His display appeared to address recent transfer discussions linking him with the club. Tottenham is reportedly interested in signing Manchester City winger Savinho, and Tel’s performance highlighted his capabilities.
Manager Roberto De Zerbi rested several key players, including Mateus Fernandes, but started midfielder Lucas Bergvall. Bergvall, who played his first pre-season minutes, was replaced at half-time by Sandro Tonali, Tottenham‘s record signing. Reports indicate that Bergvall wishes to leave the club this summer, having received offers from Premier League rivals Newcastle and Nottingham Forest.
De Zerbi stated his desire for Bergvall to remain with the club, acknowledging his potential as a top player. However, the manager also indicated he would not convince anyone to stay, emphasising that Tottenham is a top club regardless. De Zerbi also mentioned that Bergvall could find space within the squad, despite the strong competition, particularly with the arrivals of Matheus Fernandes for £85m from West Ham and Sandro Tonali for £100m from Newcastle.
Bergvall reportedly prefers to play in a deeper midfield role, a position he occupied during the 1-1 draw alongside Archie Gray. De Zerbi clarified that he cannot guarantee a starting position for any player and stressed the need for Bergvall to improve in his desired central midfield role, which requires both attacking and defensive contributions.
Andy Robertson made his debut for Spurs as a second-half substitute, wearing the captain’s armband. He made an impact in his 25-minute appearance, creating two chances and having a shot saved before successfully converting a penalty in the shootout. His energetic performance suggests a potential for increased attacking influence.
Archie Gray captained the team for the second consecutive pre-season game, a decision that surprised some given the presence of more experienced players like Conor Gallagher and Richarlison. This decision by De Zerbi has led to speculation about Gray’s potential role in the three-man midfield.
Match Details and Squad Depth
The match saw Tottenham maintain 80 per cent possession in the initial 15 minutes. Conor Gallagher had an early opportunity, hitting the post in the 36th minute. In the second half, substitute Luca Williams-Barnett hit the crossbar. Sydney FC‘s equaliser came after an interception by Kota Takai led to Takahiro Sekine scoring.
During the penalty shootout, Sydney‘s Joe Lacey hit the post, and Martin Dubravka saved Alex Popovic‘s attempt. Tonali, Robertson, and Scarlett all converted their penalties to secure the win for Tottenham. The match also featured 10 academy players for Spurs.
Several players were not involved in the match, including James Maddison, Destiny Udogie, Kevin Danso, Dominic Solanke, Fernandes, Jan Paul van Hecke, and Micky van de Ven. De Zerbi explained that not all players are in the same condition, with some, such as Archie Gray, Ben Davies, Tonali, and Mateus Fernandes, being ready for longer playing times. Other players like Conor Gallagher, Mathys Tel, Manor Solomon, and Richarlison are working to improve their fitness.
De Zerbi highlighted the importance of a strong squad of 21 or 22 high-level players to compete at the top, especially considering the injuries suffered in recent seasons. Tottenham‘s next fixture is against Chelsea on Saturday in Sydney.
Source: skysports.com
Sam Whitlock is a Sports News Writer at News-GB.org. He moved from local newspapers into digital sport. He focuses on rugby union, golf and boxing and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Journalism from the University of Gloucestershire and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Gloucester, he plays amateur rugby and follows the fight game. “Clarity beats cleverness in breaking sport news.”