England skipper Harry Kane’s timely quick-fire brace expedited Tottenham’s comeback and return to winning ways with a 4-0 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
Patrick Vieira’s valiant side had gotten the first half going with a fine performance, albeit goalless but the in-form Kane found the back of the net twice inside five early second-half minutes to change the momentum.
Matt Doherty and Son Heung-Min subsequently stepped up to extend the visitors’ advantage as Spurs picked up their first victory since the Premier League resumed after the World Cup break.
Kane’s brace brought his tally for Tottenham to 264, just two short of Jimmy Greaves’ club record, with his opener also concluding a run of 10 successive games in which Spurs conceded the first goal.
Palace came close to pulling ahead when Joachim Andersen snaked an effort from distance just wide of the right post as the sides reached the half-time break goalless.
The second half kicked off brightly for the Eagles with Joel Ward bouncing an effort wide of the right post inside the first minute but things quickly began to unravel when Kane promptly nodded in Ivan Perisic’s left-wing cross from close range, with the 48th-minute opener the start of a total change in pace for Antonio Conte’s marauders.
Five minutes into the second half was all it needed for Kane to double his tally and Spurs’ lead when Bryan Gil flicked a pass to the England captain, who sent a low missile into the bottom left corner.
Son set up Matt Doherty from the right side of the area and the latter made it three for Tottenham in the 68th minute when his low effort deflected off the outstretched Vicente Guaita and in.
Not long after Son got in on the act himself, beating Marc Guehi to Kane’s high ball and firing into the bottom corner via a deflection to make it 4-0.