August 6, (THEWILL) – Tottenham Hotspur rallied to defeat Southampton 4-1 and begin their 2022/2023 season on a positive note, with Dejan Kulusevski playing a crucial role in the final score.
Although Antonio Conte decided not to give his new additions their debut starts with five of them on the bench as Richarlison served a one-match suspension, the veteran lineup he fielded for the Saturday fixture showed itself to be more than adequate to get results.
James Ward-Prowse gave Southampton an early advantage with a volley to sound a note of warning to the hosts, but Spurs responded before the half time interval with goals from Ryan Sessegnon and Eric Dier to turn the tide. The teams went into the break with Spurs leading 2-1.
In the second half, Ghanaian defender, Mohammed Salisu, put the ball in his own goal, and Kulusevski, who had provided a header assist in the first goal, scored a goal of his own to complete a standout individual performance as Spurs easily claimed all three points in a match where Joe Aribo did not particularly stand out.
Such a strong start to the season is beneficial for Spurs as it allows them to go into their next match, a London derby against Chelsea on August 14, in high confidence. Southampton will next host Leeds and hope for better, as their opening set of fixtures will see them play Manchester United and Chelsea.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
