Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me three times, shame on both of us. Questions are being asked of defenses around the Premier League right now, but Tottenham is firmly at the root of the inquisition.
After the 5-2 victory over Southampton (four goals for Song Heung-min; four assists and one goal for Harry Kane) was followed by the 6-1 beatdown of Manchester United (two goals and one assist for Kane; two goals and one assist for Son), Tottenham has done it again by producing a preposterous 3-3 draw with West Ham (two goals and one assist for Kane; one goal and one assist for Son).
We thought all the damage was done inside the game’s opening 16 minutes with three goals from Spurs, but a late flurry of goals from West Ham — highlighted by Manuel Lanzini's gobsmacking equalizer at the death — made for an instant classic.
The statistics show just how immoderate the strike partnership between Kane and Son has been. With seven goals, Son is now the Premier League’s joint-top scorer. As for Kane, 12 goal involvements (five goals, seven assists) over the course of five opening fixtures is a new EPL record.
With the cameras still focused on the substitutes’ bench at Hotspur Stadium as Gareth Bale returned to the Tottenham squad for the first time since 2013, it took the home side all of 45 seconds to open the scoring.
Kane took possession deep inside his own half, looked up, released Son out wide and Fabián Balbuena showed him inside. You shouldn’t do that.
¡LA DUPLA QUE LA ESTÁ ROMPIENDO EN LA PREMIER LEAGUE!
Heung-Min Son - Harry Kane7 goles para el surcoreano- 7 asistencias de @HKane
Ya lo ganan los @SpursOfficial #LigaPremierTD: Tottenham 1-0 West Ham pic.twitter.com/Hl8zIBPULB
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) October 18, 2020
The second goal, coming in the eighth minute, was another impudent piece of business. After receiving possession from Son near the top of the box in a sea of West Ham defenders, Kane nutmegged Declan Rice to create some space and then spanked an effort inside the near post.
¡LE DEVUELVEN EL FAVOR A KANE!
Heung-Min Son le da la pelotita a @HKane y nos regaló esta genialidad con ‘cañito’ incluido #LigaPremierTD: Tottenham 2-0 West Ham pic.twitter.com/qU9x4ibeOX— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) October 18, 2020
The game appeared over in the 16th minute when Sergio Reguilón stood up an inviting cross for Kane at the back post.
¡HURRI-KANE!
@HKane esta ON-FIRE con los @SpursOfficial5 goles y 7 asistencias en 5 partidos #LigaPremierTD: Tottenham 3-0 West Ham pic.twitter.com/u4IUoCSJ8R
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) October 18, 2020
It says everything about Kane that just before halftime, there he was inside Tottenham’s own area blocking West Ham’s best chance by throwing his body at it.
What a block by Harry Kane ! pic.twitter.com/3PPFgxSMAk
— GIF (@MadridGIF) October 18, 2020
José Mourinho, so recently The Antiquated One, was having his moment.
30+ - Since Jose Mourinho took charge of Spurs in November 2019, Harry Kane (33) and Son Heung-Min (30) have had a direct hand in more goals in all competitions than any other Premier League players. Liberate. #TOTWHU pic.twitter.com/lQPgWKoGEM
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 18, 2020
Bale got his moment in the 72nd minute, coming on for Steven Bergwijn before immediately bouncing a free kick straight at Łukasz Fabiański.
He's baaaaaack!
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) October 18, 2020
Balbuena pulled one back for West Ham in the 82nd minute when rising above Moussa Sissoko to plant a header off Aaron Cresswell’s free kick.
Might be too little, too late for West Ham, but Balbuena steals Spurs' clean sheet with this header! #MyPLMorning pic.twitter.com/IyYPxsjHpI
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) October 18, 2020
Improbably, it was game on in the 85th minute after Davinson Sánchez turned one into his own net.
NOT SO FAST! THE HAMMERS ARE WITHIN ONE AFTER AN OWN GOAL. #MyPLMorning pic.twitter.com/2PrQRxdWdt
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) October 18, 2020
Tottenham had the next big opportunity in the 92nd minute when Bale, on the counter, slashed through West Ham’s defense before firing wide.
But that set the stage for the most dramatic equalizer you’ll ever see. With just 20 second of added time remaining, Lanzini struck. There are no words.
WHAT A STRIKE!
IT'S 3-3. WEST HAM TIE IT. pic.twitter.com/p8302notOq— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) October 18, 2020
