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Kane double takes him to EPL landmark

Published:Monday | August 29, 2022 | 12:07 AM
Tottenham’s Harry Kane (left) celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal during the English Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur at the City Ground stadium in Nottingham, England yesterday. At right is Tottenham’s
AP
Tottenham’s Harry Kane (left) celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal during the English Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur at the City Ground stadium in Nottingham, England yesterday. At right is Tottenham’s Richarlison.

LONDON (AP):

Harry Kane used to be regarded as a slow starter to Premier League seasons.

Not this time.

The England captain scored for the third straight game, with his double earning Tottenham a 2-0 win at Nottingham Forest yesterday and taking Kane to third in the all-time Premier League scoring charts.

Kane also scored a stoppage-time equaliser against Chelsea in the second round and the winner against Wolverhampton last weekend.

Kane had never scored in the season-opening month of August until 2018, a run of 15 matches across different seasons. He also had a poor start to last season, after a summer move to Manchester City didn’t materialise, before finding form in the new year.

After a full preseason, he has hit the ground running in the 2022-23 campaign — and should have had another goal to his name against Forest, only for a second-half penalty to be saved by Dean Henderson.

Also yesterday, West Ham beat Aston Villa 1-0 to earn their first points of the season, and Newcastle struck in the 90th minute to leave Wolverhampton with a 1-1 draw.

MOVING UP

Kane scored in either half to draw level with Andrew Cole on 187 Premier League goals – behind only Alan Shearer (260) and Wayne Rooney (208) – and ensure his side’s unbeaten start to the season continues. Tottenham are third with 10 points from four games, two points behind leaders Arsenal.

Kane’s perfect day was only spoilt when Henderson’s second penalty save in back-to-back home games saw the England striker’s run of 21 successful spot kicks come to an end.

Antonio Conte’s Spurs found the perfect way to quieten down the home ground as they took the lead after just five minutes. Kane’s touch sent Dejan Kulusevski away and, after advancing up the pitch, the Swede returned the ball to the England captain, who found the bottom corner from 20 yards in clinical fashion.

Tottenham were awarded a penalty eight minutes after the break as Steve Cook deliberately handled Ivan Perisic’s cross. When the penalty was finally taken after a VAR check, Henderson produced the heroics again – just as he did against West Ham – as he dived full length to his right to palm away Kane’s powerful kick. It was the first spot kick Kane had missed for Tottenham since February 2018.

The visitors did eventually double their lead with nine minutes remaining. Richarlison won the ball back and sent in a delightful cross that Kane headed into an empty net.