Heung-Min Son's second-half strike earned Tottenham an important 1-0 away win against CSKA Moscow in Champions League Group E on Tuesday. Spurs, who lost their opening match at home to Monaco, were made to wait at the Arena CSKA but Son popped up with his fifth goal in his last five appearances to seal their first points of the European campaign. Dele Alli had earlier struck the woodwork as Mauricio Pochettino's side dominated their Russian opponents, who were largely restricted to shots from distance.
Tottenham travelled to Russia missing several first-team regulars, including Harry Kane, Eric Dier and Moussa Dembele, and Pochettino made two changes from Saturday's victory over Middlesbrough, with Kieran Trippier and Erik Lamela recalled. The visitors swiftly took control, monopolising possession and creating the better opportunities. Alli was unfortunate to see his long-range strike hit the crossbar, while Toby Alderweireld headed straight at Igor Akinfeev and Vincent Janssen had a goal correctly ruled out for offside.
CSKA Moscow, second best throughout, nearly went in front when former Man Utd winger Zoran Tosic curled over having been given the freedom of the Spurs penalty area. Son, who scored both goals in the win over Boro, grew into the game after the break and only a last-ditch block by Georgi Schennikov prevented him from opening the scoring on 53 minutes. Christian Eriksen [middle] battles with Pontus Wernbloom [left] and Aleksandr Golovin [back] of CSKA Moscow . Christian Eriksen [middle] battles with Pontus Wernbloom [left] and Aleksandr Golovin [back] of CSKA Moscow
Janssen, leading the line in the absence of Kane, then dragged his best opportunity wide and the introduction of Georges-Kevin N'Koudou for the Dutchman proved to be the spark Spurs required. They took the lead through Son four minutes after the substitution as the South Korean latched onto Lamela's pass and fired in his third goal in two games. Heung-Min Son was the match-winner in the Russian capital
He had the chance to make it four in two immediately after, but Schennikov again denied the in-form Spurs forward. The hosts struggled to make inroads into a Tottenham defence well screened by Victor Wanyama, and a long-range strike by Roman Eremenko was the best they could muster in the closing stages. Victory for Pochettino's side gets them up and running in Europe, while they now turn their attention to a Super Sunday clash with Premier League leaders Man City.
