Mateus Fernandes scored a notable goal on his Tottenham debut during a behind-closed-doors friendly match on Wednesday. The midfielder’s strike came within three minutes of his first appearance for the club, contributing to a 1-0 victory over League One side MK Dons.
Fernandes, who joined Tottenham from West Ham, connected with a first-time volley from range, sending the ball into the top corner of the net. He described it as his favourite goal of his career, stating, “It was my favourite goal of my career. By a mile.” He also expressed a desire to shoot from outside the box more frequently, noting that the goal provided confidence for future matches.
New Signings Make an Impact
The friendly match saw several new Tottenham signings make their initial appearances under manager Roberto de Zerbi. Alongside Fernandes, midfielder Sandro Tonali also featured, making his first run-out since joining from Newcastle. The duo formed a midfield partnership, with reports indicating they dominated the central area of the pitch during their time on the field.
Goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, who arrived on a free transfer from Burnley in June, also made his debut. He entered the game at half-time, replacing Antonin Kinsky. Dubravka made a crucial save from close range, reacting quickly to push a header over the bar, demonstrating his reflexes.
Former Tottenham defender Sebastian Bassong praised Fernandes’ goal, highlighting the balance, quality, and connection demonstrated in the strike. Bassong compared the goal to notable efforts by Gareth Bale and Zinedine Zidane, calling Fernandes a gifted player.
Pre-Season Preparations Continue
Tottenham’s pre-season schedule includes a tour of New Zealand and Australia. The team is set to travel to New Zealand on Thursday for their next fixture. Their first match on tour will be against Auckland FC at Eden Park on Sunday, with kick-off scheduled for 04:00 BST.
The match against MK Dons provided an opportunity for De Zerbi to assess his squad, particularly the new additions. Fernandes and Tonali were substituted at half-time as part of De Zerbi’s changes, which also allowed younger players to gain experience. Midfielder Rio Kyerematen played the full 90 minutes, showcasing his versatility by playing at left-back and then right-back. Teenage attacking midfielder Luca Williams-Barnett also impressed during his 45-minute appearance.
The club’s pre-season fixtures will be available live on SPURSPLAY, the club’s video platform. This includes all three games scheduled for the tour of New Zealand and Australia, as well as the behind-closed-doors friendlies at Hotspur Way.
The pre-season schedule for the men’s first team includes:
- Spurs vs MK Dons – Wednesday 22 July – 5pm
- Auckland FC vs Spurs – Sunday 26 July – 4am (UK)
- Sydney FC vs Spurs – Wednesday 29 July – 10.45am (UK)
- Chelsea vs Spurs – Saturday 1 August – 10.45am (UK)
- Spurs vs Getafe CF – Saturday 8 August – 3pm (UK)
- Spurs vs TSG Hoffenheim – Saturday 15 August – 3pm (UK)
- Spurs vs TSG Hoffenheim – Sunday 16 August – 12noon
These matches are part of Tottenham’s preparations for the upcoming season, following a period where the club moved from a Premier League relegation battle to securing survival and making significant new signings.
The next pre-season match for Tottenham is against Auckland FC on Sunday.
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Source: bbc.com
