As Son Heung-min starts his 10th Premier League season, it wasn’t quite the high-flying debut he might have hoped for. Playing for Tottenham Hotspur, Son couldn’t find the net in their opening match against Leicester City, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
At King Power Stadium on Monday, Spurs dominated much of the game, especially in the first half, but only managed to score once. Pedro Porro broke the deadlock with a goal in the 29th minute, putting Spurs ahead. However, Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy, known for his knack for scoring, equalized in the 57th minute with a header. Despite controlling 71% of the possession and having more shots on target, Spurs had to settle for a single point.
Son, who started on the left wing alongside Dominic Solanke and Brennan Johnson, had a couple of chances but couldn’t convert. He missed a left-footed shot from outside the box in the 18th minute and later played a part in setting up Porro’s goal with a key pass to James Maddison. But it was Vardy who had the final say, scoring his ninth career goal against Tottenham.
Son was substituted for Richarlison during stoppage time, as the game ended in a draw.
Leicester City, who famously won the Premier League title in the 2015-2016 season, had a tough time recently and were relegated to the Championship after the 2022-2023 season. They bounced back by winning the Championship last season, securing their spot in the Premier League once again.
For Spurs, finishing fifth last season meant they narrowly missed out on a Champions League spot, despite a strong start with a 10-match unbeaten run. This season marks Son’s 10th year in the Premier League and his second as Tottenham’s captain. Over the past eight seasons, he has consistently scored in double figures, including his impressive Golden Boot win in 2021-2022 with 23 goals. Last season, Son led his team with 17 goals in 35 games and finished eighth overall in the league’s top scorers.
So, while the season began with a draw, there’s still plenty of time for Son and Spurs to build on their performances and chase their goals for the year.
