In his first goal for Tottenham, James Maddison showcased an exceptional individual performance, playing a pivotal role in Spurs’ promising start under Ange Postecoglou and helping them secure a victory over Bournemouth.
Maddison’s opening goal unfolded following a smooth sequence of play orchestrated by Spurs, with Yves Bissouma and Pape Sarr in control. This breakthrough occurred just moments after Cherries’ goalkeeper Neto blocked another shot from the 26-year-old.
James Maddison scored his first goal for Tottenham in a 2-0 win over Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday that maintained Spurs' unbeaten start under Ange Postecoglou. https://t.co/2eg7hGJtey
— WashTimes Sports (@WashTimesSports) August 26, 2023
Before halftime, Spurs fashioned more promising chances, but Richarlison, enduring a frustrating day, couldn’t convert his first goal of the season despite being excellently positioned for scoring opportunities.
Bournemouth kicked off the second half energetically, and Antoine Semenyo nearly replicated his goal from the previous weekend at Anfield with a remarkable attempt to level the score. Unfortunately, the Ghanaian’s curling shot from the edge of the box narrowly missed the top corner.
The visitors’ second goal was orchestrated by the young full-back Destiny Udogie, who engaged in a skillful one-two with Heung-min Son before accurately passing to Dejan Kulusevski. Taking advantage of the chance, Kulusevski placed the ball into the far corner for his inaugural goal of the campaign.
With seven points collected from their opening trio of league matches, Spurs have embarked on a strong start, while Bournemouth’s pursuit of their first win of the season remains unattained as they face their second successive defeat.
Maddison delivering an outstanding performance for Tottenham
Characterizing Maddison’s impressive beginning at Tottenham as simply hitting the ground running would inadequately capture the former Leicester player’s exceptional performance.
The English international progressed from his two assists during the initial draw against Brentford, showcasing another influential exhibition in the victory against Manchester United. He sustained this level of excellence on the southern coastline as Tottenham prolonged their unbeaten streak.
With frequent descents to retrieve possession, Maddison occupied a central role in the visitors’ most potent attacking maneuvers. He came close to scoring just seconds before his right-footed opening goal. However, Neto, who had previously rushed a clearance leading to Spurs’ possession, made amends for his error.
Richarlison missed two golden chances to augment Tottenham’s lead, both stemming from exquisite deliveries by Maddison. The Brazilian hesitated, affording Bournemouth time to alleviate the threat before directing a close-range header into the side-netting.
Especially, the initial opportunity encapsulated a disappointing afternoon for the former Everton player, grappling with multiple instances of relinquishing possession inexpensively before making way for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in the 60th minute.
Udogie, a summer acquisition from Udinese for £15 million, drew inspiration from Maddison’s playbook for Tottenham’s second goal. He seamlessly collaborated with Son, swiftly maneuvering towards the byline to deliver the ball back for Kulusevski.
Maddison had a late chance to secure a third goal for Spurs, yet its impact was minimal on a relaxed afternoon for Postecoglou’s squad. Their supporters even began singing “we’ve got our Tottenham back” just moments before the final whistle.
The Cherries were in a less dominant position
Midfielder Tyler Adams, a recent addition from relegated Leeds, was presented to the Vitality Stadium crowd ahead of the Saturday afternoon match.
Despite the USA international being sidelined due to an ongoing hamstring issue, Andoni Iraola’s squad could have significantly benefited from his presence in the first half, especially given Maddison’s influence over the game.
In spite of their challenges in containing the 26-year-old before halftime, the Cherries nearly equalized the scoreline before the intermission when Philip Billing narrowly missed the far post with a curling left-footed shot.
Ryan Christie also put Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario’s reflexes to the test with a forceful attempt from the corner of the penalty area, while Semenyo’s impressive effort narrowly sailed past the gap between the crossbar and the post.
Iraola will undoubtedly be disheartened by his team’s lapse that allowed the visitors’ second goal, with several defenders at fault for not tracking the play as Udogie skillfully maneuvered along the byline and delivered a cross for Kulusevski.
Bournemouth has exhibited glimpses of potential under Iraola’s guidance; however, clinching victory remains an elusive feat for the Cherries. Their initial phase of the season isn’t poised to get any easier.
Their upcoming league fixture will lead them to Brentford, followed by matches against Chelsea (at home), Brighton (away), and Arsenal (at home) later in September.
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