SON HEUNG-MIN gave an impressive audition to be Harry Kane’s understudy by putting Tottenham in charge at Leicester.
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| Son Heung-min scored Tottenham's opener at the KP |
The South Korean was asked to fill Kane’s boots as his team’s main striker as the England man was rested by boss Mauricio Pochettino – and Son scored Spurs’ first goal and made their second in an imposing display against the below-par Foxes.
He fired them in front emphatically in the 39th minute before his fine pass allowed Nacer Chadli to double the lead in the 66th minute.
Both teams made eight changes and Leicester had no reply to Spurs’ extra quality as Pochettino’s second string outplayed those of Claudio Ranieri, below.
Foxes full-back Ritchie De Laet was forced out during the warm-up and Danny Simpson, not even named on the original substitutes bench, found himself answering a late SOS to start at right-back.
And the hosts made a positive opening with Demarai Gray going on a couple of pleasing runs in the opening stages of his home debut.
Spurs responded quickly to the Foxes’ bright start, however, and had a chance to test home keeper Kasper Schmeichel in the 14th minute.
A smart ball from Ben Davies released Son and he burst forward before pulling back a cross for the onrushing Christian Eriksen. But the Dane dragged his shot well wide.
Nathan Dyer was looking to make an impact on a rare start during his injury-plagued loan from Swansea to Leicester and he forced Ben Davies into a foul that earned the Tottenham left-back a booking.
Spurs struggled to deal with Gokhan Inler’s free-kick delivery but they eventually cleared their lines.
Then teenage Leicester full-back Ben Chilwell, who was also making his home debut, raced forwards and cut in towards goal.
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| Son was the star of the show as Spurs beat the Foxes |
His run was eventually halted by a trip from Tom Carroll but Inler’s free-kick from 20 yards flew too close to goalkeeper Michel Vorm.
Inler then blocked a shot from Eriksen before Erik Lamela missed a good chance when he headed over from an excellent cross by Davies.
After a forgettable first half, Spurs went ahead in style, courtesy of Son.
He collected a pass from Nabil Bentaleb before jinking past a retreating Chilwell and lashing a shot past Schmeichel at his near post.
Leicester tried to respond immediately but Leonardo Ulloa curled a shot well wide from a tough angle.
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And Spurs defender Kevin Wimmer made an important interception to cut out a dangerous cross by Gray.
On the stroke of half-time, Kyle Walker marauded down the right and delivered a teasing cross towards the far post but it just eluded Chadli. Then Chilwell stood up strongly in first-half stoppage-time to block a shot by Son.
Leicester introduced an extra striker at half-time in the form of Shinji Okazaki in a bid to find an equaliser but it was Tottenham who threatened early in the second half.
They forced a series of corners and Yohan Benalouane had to make a headed clearance from a cross by Chadli after some superb footwork from the Belgian.
The Foxes almost struck back in the 53rd minute, though, when Spurs failed to deal with a high ball and Andy King fed Gray. The teenager’s cross
Kane almost made an instant impact after stepping off the bench on the hour but his powerful shot was palmed away by Schmeichel.
Leicester introduced winger Marc Albrighton as an attacking full-back as boss Ranieri went all out for a way back into the game. And they should have tested Vorm in the 65th minute but Dyer’s pass for Okazaki was overhit.
Spurs then doubled their lead in the 66th minute when Son turned smartly 25 yards out and fed Chadli superbly before the Belgian produced a cool finish to slide the ball past a helpless Schmeichel.
The Foxes should have given themselves a lifeline when Albrighton burst down the right and crossed for Okazaki but the Japanese striker was let down by poor control.
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| Michel Vorm was in great form as Spurs saw off Ranieri's side |
Then Okazaki burst onto a flick by substitute Jamie Vardy but fired straight at Vorm.
LEICESTER (4-3-3): Schmeichel; Simpson (Albrighton 63), Wasilewski, Benalouane, Chilwell; Drinkwater (Okazaki 46), Inler, King; Dyer (Vardy 74), Ulloa, Gray. Booked: Albrighton.
TOTTENHAM (4-2-3-1): Vorm; Walker, Dier, Wimmer, Davies; Bentaleb, Carroll; Lamela (Kane 60), Eriksen, Chadli (Onomah 73); Son (Alli 84). Booked: Davies. Goals: Son 39, Chadli 66.
Referee: A Taylor (Cheshire).
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