Africa-Press – Ghana. Son Heung-min’s hat-trick was his second in the Premier League, having netted four goals in a 5-2 win at Southampton in September 2020
Son Heung-min’s hat-trick kept Tottenham’s Premier League top-four destiny in their own hands as Spurs produced a masterclass in clinical finishing to thrash Aston Villa.
After the South Korea striker steered the visitors into an early lead, Spurs withstood a Villa onslaught to remain ahead at the interval with veteran goalkeeper Hugo Lloris making a string of superb saves.
But they cruised to victory with a breathtaking, counter-attacking second-half performance as Son swept home two more fine finishes, either side of an equally elegant strike from Dejan Kulusevski.
A fourth-successive win moved Antonio Conte’s side three points above north London rivals Arsenal – beaten at home by Brighton earlier on Saturday – in the race for the fourth Champions League spot.
Villa, meanwhile, were left to reflect on a fourth-straight defeat, despite dominating long spells of the first half, as returning striker Danny Ings wasted two glorious chances to bring them level.
Follow reaction to Aston Villa v Tottenham and Saturday’s other Premier League matches
Son shines – but he’s far from alone for Spurs
While the scoreline failed to reflect the overall balance of play – or chances created – in the West Midlands, it was Spurs who possessed the difference-making individual talents.
Chief among them, of course, was Son, who seemingly never ceases to amaze – his first and third goals beautifully struck first-time efforts that both went in off the post, with a composed one-on-one finish to beat Emi Martinez in between.
On-loan Juventus midfielder Kulusevski again impressed, teeing up Son for his hat-trick after firing an accurate finish through the legs of Tyrone Mings and past Martinez to put the result beyond doubt.
Dejan Kulusevski’s goal was his third in 11 league games since joining Spurs on loan from Juventus in January
Harry Kane took a back seat but was still involved in three of the goals, flicking on headers in the build-up to two, but Lloris was arguably Spurs’ stand-out performer.
The France goalkeeper made excellent first-half stops to thwart Jacob Ramsey’s solo run and shot, John McGinn’s 25-yard thunderbolt and Philippe Coutinho’s cheeky near-post free-kick.
Only three weeks ago, Spurs sat eighth, six points off fourth place – a position they now proudly hold, even if Arsenal do have a game in hand.
Tottenham, though, have a superior goal difference – boosted by this win – and an easier run-in on paper with Brighton, Brentford, Burnley and Norwich among their final seven opponents, while Arsenal meet Chelsea, Manchester United and West Ham among their next four.
Ings’ day to forget as Villa’s Spurs curse strikes again
Tottenham are very much becoming Villa’s bogey side – they have won 14 of the past 18 Premier League meetings between the sides and this was their seventh-straight success at Villa Park.
Despite Son’s early opener, it did not look like ending that way for the majority of the first half though as Villa laid siege to the visitors’ goal.
While Lloris deserves the plaudits for his impressive display, the hosts were also guilty of profligate finishing, with Ings – still yet to truly find his feet at Villa with just five goals since his £25m summer move from Southampton – the chief culprit.
Twice he was afforded excellent chances on the volley – one from a dinked Coutinho set-piece and then an Ollie Watkins flick-on – but he scuffed both, one straight at Lloris and the other badly wide.
Watkins also sent a free header over from six yards as Steven Gerrard suffered his heaviest defeat as Villa boss.
Player of the match
Son Heung-MinSon Heung-Min
with an average of 9.23
Aston VillaAston VillaAston VillaTottenhamTottenham HotspurTottenham Hotspur
Aston VillaAvgSquad number23Player namePhilippe CoutinhoAverage rating
4.87
Squad number1Player nameMartínezAverage rating
4.52
Squad number2Player nameCashAverage rating
4.48
Squad number41Player nameJ RamseyAverage rating
4.47
Squad number7Player nameMcGinnAverage rating
4.40
Squad number11Player nameWatkinsAverage rating
4.23
Squad number27Player nameDigneAverage rating
4.22
Squad number6Player nameDouglas LuizAverage rating
4.12
Squad number4Player nameKonsaAverage rating
4.07
Squad number5Player nameMingsAverage rating
3.97
Squad number20Player nameIngsAverage rating
3.89
Squad number10Player nameBuendíaAverage rating
3.62
Squad number31Player nameBaileyAverage rating
3.30
Squad number18Player nameYoungAverage rating
2.74
Tottenham HotspurAvgSquad number7Player nameSon Heung-MinAverage rating
9.23
Squad number1Player nameLlorisAverage rating
8.58
Squad number21Player nameKulusevskiAverage rating
8.44
Squad number10Player nameKaneAverage rating
8.40
Squad number4Player nameRomeroAverage rating
7.98
Squad number30Player nameBentancurAverage rating
7.62
Squad number15Player nameDierAverage rating
7.51
Squad number3Player nameReguilónAverage rating
7.45
Squad number33Player nameDaviesAverage rating
7.44
Squad number5Player nameHøjbjergAverage rating
7.39
Squad number27Player nameLucas MouraAverage rating
7.11
Squad number23Player nameBergwijnAverage rating
7.11
Squad number2Player nameDohertyAverage rating
6.96
Squad number12Player nameEmerson RoyalAverage rating
6.89
Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsAston Villa
Formation 4-3-1-2
1Martínez2Cash4Konsa5Mings27Digne7McGinn6Douglas Luiz23Coutinho41J Ramsey20Ings11Watkins
1Martínez2Cash4Konsa5Mings27DigneSubstituted forYoungat 80’minutesBooked at 82mins7McGinn6Douglas Luiz23CoutinhoSubstituted forBuendíaat 70’minutes41J Ramsey20IngsBooked at 21minsSubstituted forBaileyat 70’minutes11Watkins
Substitutes
8Sanson10Buendía15Traoré16Chambers18Young19Nakamba25Olsen31Bailey33Chukwuemeka
Tottenham
Formation 3-4-3
1Lloris4Romero15Dier33Davies12Emerson Royal30Bentancur5Højbjerg2Doherty21Kulusevski10Kane7Son Heung-Min
1Lloris4Romero15Dier33Davies12Emerson RoyalBooked at 74mins30Bentancur5HøjbjergBooked at 29mins2DohertySubstituted forReguilónat 21’minutes21KulusevskiSubstituted forBergwijnat 84’minutes10KaneBooked at 90mins7Son Heung-MinSubstituted forLucas Mouraat 78’minutes
Substitutes
3Reguilón6D Sánchez8Winks14Rodon19R Sessegnon22Gollini23Bergwijn27Lucas Moura42White
Referee:Graham ScottMatch StatsHome TeamAston VillaAway TeamTottenhamPossessionHome52%Away48%ShotsHome19Away11Shots on TargetHome8Away5CornersHome9Away3FoulsHome12Away14Live TextPost update
Match ends, Aston Villa 0, Tottenham Hotspur 4.
90’+5’Full Time
Second Half ends, Aston Villa 0, Tottenham Hotspur 4.
90’+2’Post update
Offside, Aston Villa. Emiliano Buendía tries a through ball, but Ollie Watkins is caught offside.
90’+2’Post update
Attempt saved. Emiliano Buendía (Aston Villa) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Douglas Luiz with a cross.
90’+1’Booking
Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
90’+1’Post update
Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Cristian Romero.
89’Post update
Attempt missed. Leon Bailey (Aston Villa) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses the top left corner.
85’Post update
Leon Bailey (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
85’Post update
Foul by Rodrigo Bentancur (Tottenham Hotspur).
85’Post update
Foul by Emiliano Buendía (Aston Villa).
85’Post update
Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
84’Substitution
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Steven Bergwijn replaces Dejan Kulusevski.
82’Booking
Ashley Young (Aston Villa) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
82’Post update
Foul by Ashley Young (Aston Villa).
82’Post update
Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
80’Post update
Foul by Jacob Ramsey (Aston Villa).
80’Post update
Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
80’Substitution
Substitution, Aston Villa. Ashley Young replaces Lucas Digne because of an injury.
78’Substitution
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Lucas Moura replaces Son Heung-Min.
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