It should have been September 2018. It should have been December 2018. Delay after delay meant that Tottenham Hotspur have been stopped from returning home time and time again. Tonight, that homecoming finally happened. After two successful test events, Spurs had the green light to welcome Crystal Palace to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the Premier League.
Songs, flashing lights, videos and the man from the Go Compare adverts started off the new era with the opening ceremony before Christian Eriksen and Son Heung-min lit up matters on the pitch.
Heung Min-Son and Christian Eriksen Light Up Tottenham Hotspur Homecoming
Resolute Crystal Palace Threatened To Dampen Spirits
The new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was opened early for fans to experience the new bars, food outlets and just look out from their new seats onto a pitch that was like a carpet. It’s actually hard to even imagine there is an NFL pitch lurking beneath this surface. There was pyrotechnics galore, flag-waving and an incredible atmosphere as the new stadium finally opened for competitive football. After a dreadful run, dropping 14 points, this homecoming needed to end with three vital points for Spurs.
With the fanfares over, Tottenham were full of energy early on with both Kieran Trippier and Danny Rose hugging either touchline and sending numerous balls into the box. The Crystal Palace backline was not in the mood to help the Tottenham party and time after time they stood resolute. The pitch is large and Tottenham looked to make use of the width. Son was enjoying the space and looked Spurs’ likeliest player to carve an opening. One shot was hit low and hard but the keeper just spilt it around the post.
At half-time and at 0-0, there was a feeling that Tottenham just couldn’t get out of their current rut despite creating countless chances.
A Night of Firsts
The first player to receive treatment at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium? Trippier. The first player to be booked at the new stadium? Dele Alli. The first player to score at the new stadium? Son. Harry Kane was everywhere on the night and you could sense his sheer desperation to score back home. He missed one chance you would have bet your house on and perhaps tried just too hard on the night. Rest assured it won’t be long before he is scoring at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – or, as the fans will always call it, White Hart Lane.
Son On Song
Son was strong on the ball and although he was helped with a deflection, no one cared in the stands as the near 60,000 crowd rose to celebrate his goal. It was an incredible noise that was also filled with relief. The need to win this game was as important as coming home itself. The acoustics have been specially designed to increase volume and on tonight’s showing, it has worked. The 17,000 single seater stand behind the goal is simply awe-inspiring. As the old White Hart Lane was a cauldron, this new stadium really can be the 12th man, and then some.
Eriksen Applies Final Touch to Sparkling Tottenham Homecoming
Tottenham needed a second goal to really relax and it was an Eriksen goal that settled the tie. Kane had done well on the left and there was a shout for a penalty but Eriksen reacted quickest and bundled the ball home. Crystal Palace had their best attacking spell in the final five minutes with Wilfried Zaha twisting through, only to be denied by a fine Hugo Lloris save. Zaha must surely have looked around this stunning new stadium and wondered if he might just be playing there on a regular basis next season. He certainly looks the type of player who would light up the ground.
Tottenham Up To Third, Finally Back Home and Smiling Once More
The Tottenham Hotspur homecoming is complete. They are home, and most importantly they have stopped the slump. When Tottenham host Manchester City in the Champions League quarter-final at home, it will be a full house and surely another night to create memories and more firsts.
Tottenham Hotspur have arrived home and done so with a much-needed win. If anyone wondered whether the wait for this new stadium was worth it, the answer is undeniably and emphatically yes. There is no wonder that the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is being talked about as one of the best in the world.
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