Harry Kane opened his Premier League account for the season and brought up a century of Tottenham goals, netting twice as Spurs turned over a sloppy Everton 3-0 at Goodison Park.
Wayne Rooney’s appearance in the home team caught the eye, just days after being charged for drink-driving, but he ended up a bit-part in a celebratory afternoon for his successor as England’s leading light.
Kane, who scored a pair against Malta on September 1 after his customary barren August, struck his 100th for Tottenham when an unintentional cross-shot swerved into the top corner then clipped home from close range early in the second half, with Christian Eriksen on target in between.
It was a controlled and clinical display from the London side, for whom Ben Davies excelled at left-back, and they have now taken six of their seven points away from their temporary Wembley home.
What they said
A message from your latest Spurs centurion, @HKane. ???? ???? #Kane100 pic.twitter.com/AsSHxyFGrJ
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) September 9, 2017
Tweet of the match
Harry Kane scores his 100th goal for Spurs. Must be September.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) September 9, 2017
Star man – Harry Kane
169 – It took Harry Kane 169 games to score 100 goals for Spurs; 12 games fewer than Thierry Henry to score 100 for Arsenal (181). Rivals. pic.twitter.com/RmVHPkNQk6
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 9, 2017
The 24-year-old frontman certainly moved on from his supposed ‘August curse’ – he has never scored a Premier League goal during the month – in style, producing one finish he may or may not have meant but which made him a centurion and another which nicely demonstrated his composure in front of goal.
Moment of the match
Kane’s first goal. While only he will know whether it was actually intended as a cross or not, it was an unquestionably eye-catching effort as he whipped the ball from outside the box on the right over his England colleague Jordan Pickford and in, with the personal landmark it secured only making it more memorable.
Rooney watch
Kane had already got up and running for the season on September 1 with a brace for England in Malta – the same day that Rooney, now retired from international duty, was arrested and charged with drink driving. Having been retained in Everton’s starting XI despite the furore over that incident, Rooney would have hoped to generate positive headlines in this contest but he – like virtually every one of his team-mates – had a disappointing outing, making a limited impact.
Player ratings
.@ChrisEriksen8 doubles our lead at Goodison Park! #COYS pic.twitter.com/GWFUX32n3A
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) September 9, 2017
Who’s up next?
Atalanta v Everton (Europa League, September 14)
Tottenham v Borussia Dortmund (Champions League, September 13)
