Tottenham vs Leicester LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction as Son Heung-min hits hat-trick
Antonio Conte’s side move joint-top as Brendan Rodgers faces up to a run of six straight defeats
Son Heung-min ended his scoring drought in stunning fashion with a sublime hat-trick as Tottenham Hotspur crushed Leicester City 6-2 to move joint top of the Premier League on Saturday.
Rodrigo Bentancur’s first goal for Tottenham was separating the sides in an entertaining tussle but Son, who started on the bench, exploded back to form with three goals in 13 minutes.
The South Korean, the Premier League’s joint-top scorer last season, had not scored in Tottenham’s first eight games.
Leicester took an early lead with a twice-taken penalty by Youri Tielemans but Tottenham hit back quickly with Harry Kane powering in a header at the far post.
Tottenham went ahead in the 21st minute as defender Eric Dier marked his return to the England squad with a glancing header from a corner.
Bottom-placed Leicester were lively in attack though and James Maddison’s superb finish sent them in level at halftime.
Bentancur seized on a mistake to restore Tottenham’s lead in the 47th minute but Son went on to steal the show.
After coming on in the 59th minute, he curled an unstoppable right-footer into the top corner in the 73rd minute, then curled a left-footer into the opposite side 11 minutes later.
Son then completed his hat-trick after running on to a Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg through ball.
Tottenham 4-2 Leicester
80 mins: Save! Harry Kane weaves his way through the Leicester defence and gets into the left side of the box. His squared pass over to Son is deflected and rolls out to Bentancur.
He shifts the ball inside of another defender then fizzes a shot at goal but Ward drops low to keep it out.
Tottenham 4-2 Leicester
77 mins: Leicester are set to become the 10th team to pick up one point (or none) in their opening seven games. Six of the previous nine went down.
Tottenham have this game well in hand now.
GOAL! Tottenham 4-2 Leicester (Son, 73’)⚽️
73 mins: Son Heung-min ends his goal drought with a banger!
James Justin loses the ball to Rodrigo Bentancur and sends it up to Son who drives up the pitch. He’s got Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg alongside him but Son only has eyes for goal.
He twists away from Wout Faes and smokes his effort straight past Danny Ward from outside the penalty area!
Great finish to open up Son’s account for the year.
Tottenham 3-2 Leicester
72 mins: Kulusevski is taken off now by Antonio Conte with Yves Bissouma brought on to replace him for the final 20 minutes or so.
Kane is brought down by Faes and wins Spurs a free kick. Will Bissouma’s introduction give Spurs some more control in midfield?
Tottenham 3-2 Leicester
69 mins: The pattern of the game is firmly counter-attacking from Spurs now. They’re sat deep, letting Leicester have the ball and hoping the pace and skill of Kane, Son and Kulusevski can give the home side a fourth goal.
A Leicester goal should shake things up.
Tottenham 3-2 Leicester
66 mins: Leicester might be behind in the game but they’re pushing the issue. Daka flicks the ball round the corner and gets it to Barnes who makes a diagonal run into the middle from the left.
Barnes collects the ball and looks to unleash a shot but Romero slides in and knocks the ball away from him allowing Spurs to clear their lines.
Tottenham 3-2 Leicester
63 mins: Antonio Conte makes a double substitution now with Cristian Romero and Son Heung-min coming on to replace Davinson Sanchez and Richarlison.
Tottenham 3-2 Leicester
60 mins: Save! James Maddison volleys a pass into the box and finds Patson Daka who squeezes in front of Ryan Sessegnon and nods the ball into the ground.
It bounces up to a good height but Lloris is at full stretch when he leaps to his right and pushes the ball wide of the goal!
Tottenham 3-2 Leicester
57 mins: Harry Kane drops slightly deeper to receive the ball then plays it up to Dejan Kulusevski. Kulusevski dribbles into the right side of the box but Wout Faes forces him onto his right foot.
The winger manages to get off a tame effort and Danny Ward has no trouble scooping it up.
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