Saturday, March 11, 2023 at 5:57 PM• Jonathan van Haaster

Tottenham Hotspur booked a convincing victory in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon. The team of the troubled manager Antonio Conte was 3-1 too strong for Nottingham Forest thanks to goals from Harry Kane (twice) and Heung-min Son. Joe Worrall’s connection goal did not harm the home team in the least. Tottenham, which was eliminated by AC Milan in the Champions League midweek, is firmly in fourth place thanks to the victory. Forest is fourteenth.

Eric Dier returned to the team compared to the Champions League match against Milan. The Englishman was still suspended midweek, but was kicked off on Saturday. Richarlison was also allowed to start again. The Brazilian has had a disappointing season and said after the match against Milan that he was frustrated. On Saturday, however, he was preferred to Dejan Kulusevski. Arnaut Danjuma again had to make do with a place on the bench. In contrast to fellow attackers Kulusevski and Lucas Moura, the Dutchman was not allowed any playing time.

Richarlison thought to open the score in the third minute. Oliver Skipp served the Brazilian, who bounced the ball twice and then worked it into the roof of the goal. However, referee Craig Pawson disallowed the goal for offside by Richarlison. Tottenham struggled to create chances in the following phase, until they suddenly took the lead in the twentieth minute. A cross from the right from Pedro Porro hit Kane’s head, who got rid of Serge Aurier and saw his effort go into the far corner: 1-0. Tottenham remained the dominant side and were awarded a penalty ten minutes from the end after Richarlison was brought down by a reckless tackle from Worrall. The opportunity from eleven meters was used by Kane, who hit hard through the middle: 2-0.

Tottenham went into the break with a good feeling and Conte’s team remained the parent even after tea. The second half was barely two minutes old when Richarlison had a chance to score his first Premier League goal of the season. A nice through pass from Son ended up with the South American, who barely saw his effort blocked by Renan Lodi. The Spurs continued to dominate and after more than an hour of play the third goal of the afternoon was still there. A first cross from Richarlison was made harmless, but his second cross did reach Son. The South Korean put the ball well in front of his feet and found the far corner: 3-0.

Forest tried to come back, but the visitors didn’t get any further than a missed header from Aurier and a shot from Emmanuel Dennis. Keylor Navas, on the other hand, had to stretch on a header from Ben Davies, while Richarlison also came dangerously close. Minutes later, Navas also had an answer to a shot from Son, who wanted to find the short corner. The 3-1 fell on the other side. A Morgan Gibbs-White corner kick was extended by Felipe to the far post, where Worrall was accurate with a header: 3-1. Forest went on the attack in the remainder of the game and received a penalty kick deep in stoppage time after hands from Kulusevski. André Ayew then encountered Fraser Forster.