Tottenham's Ruthless Victory: Savio Shines in 5-1 Win
Tottenham had to be patient. For 42 minutes they probed, pushed and circled Charlton without landing a decisive blow. Then, in the space of three frantic minutes just before half-time, the game was ripped away from the visitors and never came back.
Mikey Moore struck first, Dominic Solanke followed almost instantly, and from that moment Spurs played with the freedom of a side that knew the contest was already theirs. By the time the final whistle went, they had run up a 5-0 lead before a late consolation, with £85million signing Savio stealing the show off the bench.
Spurs’ late first-half burst
Charlton had held on with discipline and a touch of defiance, helped by goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky, who produced a strong save in each half and did his best to keep the score respectable. His resistance finally cracked when Moore produced the kind of moment Spurs fans are already starting to expect from him.
The young forward broke the deadlock with a piece of individual brilliance, showing superb strength and tight control as he rolled past challenges and finished with conviction. Once he scored, his confidence surged. He kept demanding the ball, running at defenders, and quickly became Tottenham’s most persistent threat.
Almost immediately, Solanke joined in. Dropping deep all night to link play and win fouls, he got his reward with a lovely turn and finish to double the lead before the interval. It was the sort of sharp, penalty-box moment that underlines why Roberto De Zerbi is likely to make him first choice as soon as his fitness is fully there.
At 2-0, Charlton’s belief drained. Spurs’ grew.
Control from the back and in midfield
Behind the attacking flair, there was a calm authority. Ben Davies and Jan Paul van Hecke were barely troubled for long spells, but when Charlton did venture forward, they met a back line that looked in control.
Davies was solid and assured throughout and even found his name on the scoresheet, albeit in the most innocuous fashion as Savio’s shot deflected off him and wrong-footed Kinsky. It summed up Spurs’ dominance: even their slices of luck went in.
Alongside him, van Hecke dictated the tempo from deep. The Dutchman misplaced just six of his 96 passes and no player hit more balls into the final third. He stepped out of defence to keep Spurs on the front foot, and once the hosts took control of possession, Charlton were pushed further and further back. He departed midway through the second half having set the rhythm.
Destiny Udogie, making his first start of the season as he builds back to full fitness, put in valuable minutes on the left. He increasingly showed his attacking instincts, joining in higher up the pitch as the game opened up.
In midfield, Rodrigo Bentancur needed time to settle, with a few rash moments early on, but as Spurs tightened their grip he began to dominate. Strong but fair in the tackle and comfortable receiving under pressure, he became a reliable pivot. Lucas Bergvall, eager to respond after a difficult outing against Brentford, looked more assured on the ball and used this chance to reset.
Mateus Fernandes, the big-money summer arrival, offered glimpses of why Spurs paid so heavily for him. On his full debut he glided out of pressure, carried the ball through the centre and, at his most fluid, gave Tottenham real thrust. His quality told with a deft, clipped free-kick that invited Kevin Danso to attack it.
Bench power: Danso and Savio change the mood
The third goal came from the bench. Danso stepped onto the pitch, attacked Fernandes’ delivery with his very first touch and buried a header in the 67th minute, taking a whack to the head in the process. It should have been the perfect defender’s cameo: impact at one end, clean sheet at the other. Only a late Charlton goal denied him that extra satisfaction.
By then, though, the afternoon belonged to Savio.
Introduced to huge cheers, the £85m Brazilian immediately lifted the tempo. He picked up the ball on the edge of the box and drilled a powerful low strike into the corner for his first Spurs goal, exactly the kind of end product De Zerbi had publicly demanded from him. The response was emphatic.
He wasn’t done. Driving at a tiring defence again, he let fly once more; this time the shot took a deflection off Davies and flew in, officially going down as the Welshman’s goal but owed entirely to Savio’s intent. Two efforts, two decisive contributions, and a clear statement that he intends to be more than just a big fee and a reputation.
Supporting cast and tactical options
Around them, others played their part. Archie Gray worked tirelessly on the right, constantly trying to support Moore, even if his final ball often lacked the precision to match his endeavour. When faced one-on-one with Millenic Alli he looked a touch cautious, but Charlton rarely managed to get their winger into threatening positions once Spurs went ahead.
Pedro Porro’s introduction added another attacking angle. His presence instantly gave Tottenham a different dimension on that flank, and De Zerbi will be relieved to have him available again as fixtures pile up.
Up front, Mathys Tel bustled and buzzed without finding the finish he craved. He was heavily involved, always offering himself, but the rhythm never quite clicked in front of goal. On another day he would have been on the scoresheet as Spurs ran riot after the break.
And at the back, goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky – despite conceding five – still emerged with some credit, his two big saves preventing an even heavier scoreline, even if he will be frustrated not to have kept out at least one more.
A statement of intent
By full time, the story was clear. Spurs had waited for their opening, seized it with two ruthless blows before half-time, then used their depth and new signings to turn a solid win into a statement one.
Moore’s spark, Solanke’s sharpness, Fernandes’ poise, Danso’s instant impact and Savio’s explosive cameo all fed into a performance that looked every inch like a De Zerbi side taking shape.
If this is what Tottenham can do while players are still playing their way into full fitness, what happens when this group truly hits top speed?
