Football made a triumphant return to N17 for the 2023/24 season as Tottenham Hotspur secured an impressive 5-1 victory against Shakhtar Donetsk in a pre-season friendly at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Under the guidance of new Head Coach Ange Postecoglou, Spurs put on a dazzling show for their home crowd. Harry Kane stole the spotlight with four brilliant goals, while young striker Dane Scarlett delivered the final blow with a stunning strike in the closing moments. Kevin Kelsy briefly equalized for Shakhtar just before half-time.
The match served as a dedication to the people of Ukraine, with the Club raising funds for Shakhtar’s charitable foundation, Shakhtar Social, to support those affected by the ongoing humanitarian crisis caused by the conflict with Russia. The fans’ support was evident, with an impressive 56,331 attendees turning up to watch Spurs back in action at N17.
Postecoglou’s home debut saw Guglielmo Vicario, James Maddison, and Destiny Udogie all starting, while Manor Solomon made a late appearance off the bench.
Spurs almost opened the scoring early on, but Andrii Piatov’s saves denied Kane and Emerson Royal’s follow-up attempt. In a touching moment, Piatov, who had a distinguished career at Shakhtar and recently joined their coaching staff, received a guard of honor as he made his final appearance for the club.
The deadlock was broken when Maddison was brought down in the area, and Kane stepped up to convert the penalty. Shakhtar equalized just before half-time through Kelsy’s headed effort, but Spurs quickly regained control after the break.
Kane’s brilliant header and clinical finish completed his hat-trick, and he added a fourth goal later in the game. Despite Shakhtar’s efforts, they couldn’t match Spurs’ dominance. Scarlett sealed the victory with a well-taken left-footed shot in the closing stages.
The game provided an entertaining showcase of Spurs’ attacking prowess and resilience, setting the stage for an exciting 2023/24 Premier League campaign under their new coach.