Savio Shines as Tottenham Dominates Charlton

Tottenham had to be patient, but once the door opened, they ripped it off its hinges.

For most of the first half Charlton hung in, organised and stubborn, while Spurs probed without quite clicking. Then, right on the stroke of half-time, the game changed in a three‑minute burst.

Mikey Moore, the teenager everyone came to see, broke it open. A flash of strength, tight control in traffic, and a ruthless finish put Spurs in front. Charlton never really recovered. Dominic Solanke quickly followed with a sharp turn and finish to make it 2-0 before the whistle, and from there Roberto De Zerbi’s side never looked back.

Second-half surge

Spurs returned from the break in complete control, the ball zipping through midfield with Mateus Fernandes increasingly dictating the tempo. The £85million summer signing began to show why the club invested so heavily in him, gliding away from pressure and punching passes through the lines.

The pressure finally told on 67 minutes. Fernandes stood over a free-kick and clipped in a teasing delivery. Kevin Danso, just on the pitch and barely settled, attacked it with his first touch and buried his header, taking a whack to the head in the process. Spurs were cruising at 3-0 and Charlton’s resistance was broken.

Then came the noise. Savio, the new £85m man, stepped off the bench to a roar and wasted no time justifying the hype. Picking up the ball on the edge of the box, he drove a powerful low strike into the corner for his first Spurs goal, a clean, emphatic finish that sent the crowd up again.

He wasn’t done. Moments later, another effort from the Brazilian took a heavy deflection off Ben Davies and flew in, officially credited as an own goal but all of Savio’s making. Spurs were 5-0 up, rampant, and playing with the swagger De Zerbi demands.

Charlton did at least find a late consolation, Jones heading in to deny Antonin Kinsky a clean sheet, a small frustration for a goalkeeper who had produced a strong save in each half.

Player ratings

• Antonin Kinsky 6 Two important stops, one in each half, and generally composed. He will still feel he should have left with a clean sheet after Jones’ late header.
• Archie Gray 6 Full of running down the right and eager to support Moore, but his final ball let him down. Looked slightly tentative when isolated against Millenic Alli, though Charlton rarely managed to work the ball into dangerous areas once Spurs went ahead.
• Ben Davies 7 Assured and untroubled defensively, dealing comfortably with what little Charlton offered. His “goal” came in bizarre fashion as Savio’s shot cannoned off him and into the net, but his overall display was steady and reliable.
• Jan Paul van Hecke 7 Set the rhythm from the back. Completed 90 of his 96 passes and no player hit more balls into the final third. Calm, progressive, and central to Spurs’ dominance before making way midway through the second half.
• Destiny Udogie 6 A valuable first start of the season as he builds back towards full fitness. Threw himself into duels and, as the game opened up, began to show more of his trademark attacking thrust down the left.
• Rodrigo Bentancur 6 A slow, slightly rash start, then a steady rise. Once Spurs took control of possession he grew into the game, strong in the tackle and confident receiving under pressure in tight spaces.
• Mikey Moore 8 The spark. His moment of magic to break the deadlock changed the entire tone of the night. Mixed strength with close control, constantly asking questions of defenders and carrying Spurs’ main threat before Savio’s entrance.
• Lucas Bergvall 6 Looked far more assured on the ball than in his previous outing against Brentford. Used this chance well to reset, keeping things tidy and linking play through midfield.
• Mateus Fernandes 7 Showed flashes of the “fluid best” De Zerbi wants. Slipped out of pressure zones with ease and drove Spurs forward through the middle. Capped his full debut with a beautifully clipped assist for Danso’s header.
• Mathys Tel 7 Busy and heavily involved, always looking to combine and threaten in behind, but the finishing touch deserted him. On another day he leaves with a goal or two as Spurs cut loose in the second half.
• Dominic Solanke 7 A classic centre-forward performance. Dropped deep, used his body smartly, and won a stack of fouls to relieve pressure and link play. Took his goal well with a neat turn and precise finish. On this evidence, he looks destined to be De Zerbi’s first-choice striker once fully fit.
• Pedro Porro 6 Brought on a different attacking angle the moment he stepped onto the pitch. His presence alone stretches opponents, and De Zerbi will be relieved to have that weapon back in his arsenal.
• Kevin Danso 7 Made the perfect impact: on, one run, one header, one goal. Took a blow to the head in the process, but his frustration will be reserved for the late concession that ruined the clean sheet.
• Savio 9 The headline act. Introduced to huge cheers and responded with a ruthless, low drive for his first Spurs goal. Then forced the fifth as his shot deflected in off Davies. De Zerbi had challenged him to deliver more end product; on this evidence, he may have just unleashed his most dangerous weapon of all.