GARETH BALE has gone from superstar to supersub.
We were not saying that a couple of weeks ago when the Welsh hero came off the bench late on for his eagerly awaited Spurs return on a season loan from Real Madrid.
Gareth Bale rolled back the years to head home Tottenham’s winnerCredit: Reuters
The effort was Bale’s first for Spurs since May 2013Credit: Reuters
That day the dream turned into a nightmare as he only managed to inspire his beloved North Londoners to throw away a 3-0 lead against West Ham.
But he banished that memory last night as with 70 minutes on the clock – just two minutes earlier than his introduction against the Hammers – he came on for Erik Lamela with the score at 1-1.
With his first touch, Bale headed on a corner, only for Harry Kane to fire against a post from four yards out.
Then with another touch he headed home a 73rd minute winner.
It was a goal made in Madrid as it came from a cross from left-back Sergio Reguilon, who arrived with him from the Bernabeu in a £27.5million permanent.
Spurs fans, celebrating in front of their TV screens, will say it was made in heaven.
It was Bale’s first goal for the club since his winner at home to Sunderland in the final game of the 2012-2013 season.
A few months later he joined Real Madrid for a then world-record fee of £86million.
Tariq Lamptey had levelled for BrightonCredit: AP:Associated Press
He won four Champions Leagues and two LaLiga titles before his time in the Spanish capital turned sour.
Now 31, he has returned to the Tottenham bosom in a bid to restore his reputation and fitness – which were torn apart in his final two years at Madrid under Zinedine Zidane.
Spurs boss Jose Mourinho warned us not to expect the same player as the one who left seven years ago.
But his goal showed he still has that star quality – after all, anybody who can knock VAR out of the headlines must have something going for them!
And make no mistake, before Bale’s clincher this clash was all set to become another VAR inquest.
Harry Kane fired Tottenham into a 13th minute lead with a penalty sealed by VAR Jon Moss after Adam Lallana had clumsily bundled the striker to the floor right on the edge of the area.
Technically it was the right call, even if Brighton believed it was harsh.
The visitors were feeling even more aggrieved nine minutes later when they were denied a penalty even though Matt Doherty appeared to pull back Leandro Trossard.
Referee Graham Scott consulted the pitch-side monitor for Brighton’s equaliser – but allowed the goal to standCredit: PA:Press Association
Harry Kane earlier struck from the spotCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
Yes it would have been soft – but no softer than the countless others we have during the technology’s farcical introduction by those in charge of our game.
Then if that was not enough, Tariq Lamptey’s 56th minute equaliser for Brighton was allowed to stand by ref Graham Scott even after he had been encouraged by Moss to go to the pitchside monitor to watch again Solly March’s sliding challenge on Pierre-Emile Hojberg – which looked like a foul – much, much earlier in the build-up.
But Scott showed either his confidence or arrogance – you decide – by becoming the first Prem ref not to overrule a decision by VAR after going to the monitor.
The debates about whether it was the correct call or not will continue for days to come, but in truth the alleged foul, despite being pivotal, took place so early in the move and many seconds before the ball hit the net, that you wonder if the officials should be allowed to go back so far to review a decision.
Mourinho and Spurs will feel justice was done – although you had to feel for Brighton boss Graham Potter and debutant keeper Robert Sanchez.
The Spaniard, signed by the Seagulls from Levante as a 15-year-old, was handed his first senior start for the South Coast club as regular first choice was given ‘a breather’ on the bench.
And Sanchez thought he had earned his struggling side a precious point with a brilliant save from his own defender Joel Veltman who inadvertently fired the rebound back to his own goal after Erik Lamela’s shot had cannoned off a post shortly before Bale’s winner.
Bale replaced Erik Lamela… the man that took his squad number in 2013Credit: AP:Associated Press
Graham Potter saw his side again fail to capitalise on a good performanceCredit: AP:Associated Press
The Wales ace’s winner sealed Tottenham’s first home win in the Premier League this season.
As for Brighton, they have mustered only one top flight win this term and they have not won away at Spurs since Michael Robinson scored the only goal in an old Division One clash at White Hart Lane on October 24, 1981.
The No1 song in the UK charts that day was a version of Lesley Gore’s Sixties classic It’s My Party by Dave Stewart and Barbara Gaskin.
Well nobody would have blamed Potter for crying – if he wanted to – after this.
Spurs boss Jose Mourinho admits Gareth Bale isn’t the star he once was but says neither are Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
