Sunderland vs Tottenham Hotspur. Premier League.
Stadium of LightAttendance40,303.
Monday 14 September 2015 10:18, UK
Ryan Mason struck late to hand Tottenham their first three points of the season with a 1-0 victory at Sunderland.
It took Spurs until the 82nd minute to break the deadlock as Harry Kane combined with substitute Erik Lamela, whose defence-splitting pass found Mason and he chipped the ball past Costel Pantilimon to round off a 15-pass move.
It was a bitter blow for Dick Advocaat's team, who were the better of the two sides in the first half, hitting the post through former Spurs striker Jermain Defoe shortly before half-time.
After the break, Kane's woes in front of goal in the Premier League continued when he missed Mason's cross at the far post, with the game looked to be heading towards a draw.
But Mason, who was injured in the process of scoring, provided the goal to move his side up to 12th in the table and keep Sunderland, who hit the bar through Jack Rodwell in the closing stages, rooted to the bottom and still looking for a first win.
Spurs, who had failed to find the back of the net in four of their last eight Premier League games, burst out of the traps and thought they should have had a penalty inside the first minute when Kyle Walker went down under the challenge of Patrick van Aanholt.
It gave referee Craig Pawson an early decision to make but he ignored the claims as Sunderland, lifted by a passionate Stadium of Light crowd, started to push forward with intent through the attacking trio of Defoe, debutant Fabio Borini and Jeremain Lens.
And it was Borini and Lens who nearly combined in the 10th minute when the former Liverpool striker failed to latch onto the Dutchman's cross.
However, it was Defoe who looked the most likely and he missed a glorious chance to put the hosts ahead in the 26th minute, hitting the post after running onto Lens' inch-perfect through ball.
Defoe was giving the Spurs defence a torrid time and he pulled into space again just before the break, firing a shot straight into the arms of Hugo Lloris, despite Toby Alderweireld having a handful of the former England striker's shirt.
After the break, Mason was lucky to escape punishment after a studs-up challenge on Borini, and the Sunderland supporters did not hide their frustrations.
And minutes later, the England midfielder tried his luck from distance but could not trouble Pantilimon this time.
Sunderland hit back and new signing Ola Toivonen should have done better when Billy Jones' deflected shot fell into his patch, but Lloris was quickly off his line to punch the ball clear.
The home side continued to press as Lens burst into the Spurs half with just Jan Vertonghen to beat, the Dutchman trying to use his pace to break through on goal, but he was well thwarted by the Belgium international.
Kane's big moment came in the 67th minute when Mason's cross picked out the England striker at the far post, but he kicked nothing but air with just Pantilimon to beat.
But Spurs finished the game strongly in the final 15 minutes and, after a low shot was well-saved, Mason broke the deadlock after starting the move himself.
He gave it to Kane, who flicked the ball first time to Lamela, and his perfectly weighted pass put Mason through on goal to clip home over the on-rushing Pantilimon and claim his second Premier League goal.
Sunderland, who are still looking for their first win of the season, thought they had grabbed a dramatic equaliser when substitute Rodwell beat Lloris, but the ball cannoned back off the bar.
Player ratings
Sunderland: Pantilimon (6), Jones (7), Kaboul (7), O'Shea (6), Van Aanholt (6), Gomez (7), M'Vila (7), Lens (7), Toivonen (6), Borini (7), Defoe (8).
Subs used: Watmore (5), Cattermole (5), Rodwell (6).
Tottenham: Lloris (7), Walker (6), Alderweireld (7), Vertonghen (7), Davies (7), Mason (8), Dier (8), Son (6), Chadli (6), Alli (6), Kane (5).
Subs used: Lamela (6), Townsend (5), Carrol (5)
Man of the Match: Eric Dier
