Tottenham open tour with victory over Auckland FC
Dane Scarlett and Richarlison were on target as an under-strength Tottenham opened their pre-season tour with an entertaining 2-0 win over the A-League champions, Auckland FC, on Sunday. The match, played at Eden Park in damp conditions, attracted a record crowd of 40,112 for a men's football match in New Zealand, surpassing the previous best of 37,034 set during a World Cup qualifier between New Zealand and Peru in 2017.
De Zerbi rests key players
Manager Roberto De Zerbi rested most of his top players, giving opportunities to younger squad members. The only notable new signing to feature was former West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes, who had scored in a 1-0 win over MK Dons earlier in the week. De Zerbi explained his cautious approach: "It's a chance for the young players. After a very long trip, we can't take a risk with the players who are not ready to play yet." He also noted that Jan Paul van Hecke and Andy Robertson were not yet up to speed.
Scarlett and Richarlison seal the win
Scarlett opened the scoring in the 12th minute, pouncing after Auckland goalkeeper Michael Woud parried Manor Solomon's shot. The second goal came after Fernandes entered the match with half an hour remaining. Mathys Tel burst into the box and set up a tap-in for Richarlison to double the lead. The club's record signing, Sandro Tonali, was unavailable due to a minor injury sustained before the team left London, according to De Zerbi.
Tour continues in Sydney
Tottenham have embarked on an aggressive summer of spending after narrowly avoiding relegation last season, finishing 17th. The team will play further matches in Sydney next week against A-League side Sydney FC and London rivals Chelsea. The strong performance and record attendance highlight growing interest in football in New Zealand.
