Son Heung-min turned back the clock with a vintage display, scoring twice and orchestrating Tottenham’s dominant 4-1 victory over Newcastle at a raucous Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday. The South Korean’s masterclass lifted Spurs into fifth place and served notice that reports of his decline have been greatly exaggerated.
This wasn’t just another Son performance—it was the kind that reminded everyone why he’s been the heartbeat of this club for nearly a decade. His curling opener after nine minutes set the tone for what became a tactical clinic from Ange Postecoglou’s side.
Early Strike Sets the Standard
The hosts pressed from the opening whistle like a team possessed. When James Maddison’s defense-splitting pass found Son on the edge of the area, the veteran forward’s left-footed curler into the far corner was pure poetry—the kind of finish that separates good players from great ones.
“We knew we had to start fast against Newcastle because they’re dangerous on the counter,” Son said afterward, his smile betraying the satisfaction of a player who knows he’s silenced some doubters. “The early goal gave us confidence to play our football.”
Newcastle looked shell-shocked. Eddie Howe’s usually disciplined defensive unit couldn’t cope with Spurs’ intensity, and their midfield trio of Bruno Guimarães, Sandro Tonali, and Joelinton were being overrun in those crucial opening exchanges.
Kulusevski Strikes Gold Again
The Swedish winger has been quietly building one of the season’s most consistent scoring runs, and his 37th-minute strike made it three goals in as many league games. Yves Bissouma’s clever work down the right—where Pedro Porro continues to excel—created the space for Kulusevski to cut inside and fire past a helpless Nick Pope.
Newcastle’s response was immediate and clinical. Alexander Isak, looking every inch the striker Howe hoped for when he signed him, controlled Guimarães’ cross with his chest before volleying home a gorgeous equalizer just three minutes later. For a moment, St. James’ Park’s traveling faithful dared to dream.
Second Half Surge Kills the Contest
Those dreams died within 60 seconds of the restart. Son pounced on Richarlison’s crossbar rebound to notch his second, and suddenly the floodgates opened. The Brazilian—who has endured his share of criticism this season—finally found his shooting boots with a towering header from Destiny Udogie’s whipped cross ten minutes later.
Dan Burn’s red card for a second bookable offense on the hour mark was the final nail in Newcastle’s coffin. The big center-back’s late lunge on Kulusevski was born of frustration more than malice, but it left Howe’s men with an impossible task.
Postecoglou’s Tactical Triumph
The Australian’s decision to deploy Son in a roaming role behind the front line was inspired. Rather than hugging the left touchline, the South Korean drifted centrally to link play before making those trademark late runs that have terrorized Premier League defenses for years.
“Son was exceptional today, not just with his goals but his movement and creativity,” Postecoglou explained, clearly relishing this tactical masterstroke. “When he plays with that freedom, he’s one of the best players in the league.”
The numbers tell their own story: Spurs are now fifth on 28 points, leapfrogging their beaten opponents who slip to seventh on 26. More importantly, they’re just three points behind fourth-placed Arsenal with momentum building ahead of Friday’s trip to Nottingham Forest.
Howe cut a dejected figure afterward, acknowledging what everyone inside N17 already knew. “The first 20 minutes were not good enough at this level. Against a team like Tottenham, you can’t afford to give them that kind of head start.”
This was the kind of afternoon that could define Spurs’ season—and perhaps Son’s renaissance.
