Football is finally being played at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. While the official Tottenham stadium opening will be Wednesday when Spurs hosts Crystal Palace, the North London club celebrated its new digs with a legends match against Inter Milan on Saturday.
And Robbie Keane stole the show.
Keane, now 38 and probably retired, showed he’s still got the goods after all these years and a career that included more than 100 goals for Tottenham (and three for Inter). He scored the second and assisted on the third in Tottenham’s 5-4 loss to Inter on Saturday.
The match featured greats from both clubs, including a few who played for both teams, such as Keane.
| And starting for #InterForever...
Cesar, Zanetti, Berti, Carbone, Veron, Galante, Karagounis, Silvestre, Suazo, Ferrari, Blanc. https://t.co/3hEFCNVyvu— Inter (@Inter_en) March 30, 2019
Former USMNT coach Jurgen Klinsmann suited up for both squads, playing for Spurs in the first half before swapping kits and taking the field for Inter in the second half. Sadly, he didn’t get to go up against former Inter manager Jose Mourinho, who was at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium but didn’t suit up.
| Look who's back after a quick change of clothes...
Spurs Legends 4-4 Inter Forever pic.twitter.com/JRB5h7wdUI— Inter (@Inter_en) March 30, 2019
@J_Klinsmann: "I'm really honoured to be here on such a special day." #SpursNewStadium #COYS pic.twitter.com/NxVVURVI6o
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) March 30, 2019
But forget Klinsmann for a moment (we’re all trying to forget him in America after that 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign) and focus on Keane, the former LA Galaxy striker who looked more like current Galaxy striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Keane gave Tottenham a 2-1 lead with a flick that was just wonderful.
That finish and celebration...
Take a bow, Keano!#THFC 2-1 #Inter pic.twitter.com/PxyVpXPTyx
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) March 30, 2019
Almost as impressive as the goal was his assist on Tottenham’s third. I hope I can still hit a bicycle kick like this when I’m 38. Not that I can now, but that’s besides the point.
GOAL!
An acrobatic assist from Keano and Nielsen is there to make it 3-2!#THFC 3-2 #Inter pic.twitter.com/YavdebrG7w
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) March 30, 2019
David Suazo scored twice for Inter while Nicola Ventola and Juan Sebastian Veron, the former Manchester United and Inter midfielder, added one apiece. The winner came from Houssine Kharja in the dying minutes.
Also scoring for Spurs on the Tottenham stadium opening day were Dimitar Berbatov, Allan Nielsen (courtesy Keane's assist) and Finnish former NY Red Bulls midfielder Teemu Tainio.
The match wasn’t the first football game played in the new Spurs stadium. The football Tottenham stadium opening came on Sunday for a Spurs U-18 match against Southampton.