title | Chronicle NG

Son Heung-min scored one and set up two as Tottenham advanced to the Europa League play-off round after a scare against Shkendija in North Macedonia.

Fresh from scoring four goals against Southampton last Sunday, Son turned provider to set up Argentine Erik Lamela to calmly score the opener.

Joe Hart, who was making his Spurs debut, was beaten by a stunning 20-yard finish by Valmir Nafiu.

But Son drilled in the second before setting up Harry Kane for the third.

It was a decent performance by Jose Mourinho’s side, who meet Maccabi Haifa at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the play-off round next Thursday.

However, they went from dominating the tie to hanging on before two goals in the space of nine minutes put the game out of Shkendija’s reach.

Soon after Nafiu’s wonderful equaliser from outside the box, Besart Ibraimi had a chance to put the hosts ahead but headed wide

Spurs regained control thanks mainly to another excellent performance by Son.

Having scored four of his side’s five goals at Southampton last Sunday, the South Korea forward produced another classy performance to help his side advance.

Vocal Hart makes himself heard

Hart had little to do on his first competitive outing since strengthening Tottenham’s goalkeeping options in the summer.

Son scores four as Tottenham beat Southampton

He was beaten by Shkendija’s one and only shot on target but Nafiu’s finish, early in the second half, was spectacular and there was little the 33-year-old could do about it.

Despite a quiet debut, Hart made his presence felt in the behind-closed-doors tie in Skopje.

His voice boomed around the ground as the veteran of 75 England caps barked orders to his team-mates in front of him.

Joe Hart at the end of the match with Jose Mourinho and Son Heung-min — Joe Hart played his first competitive match since appearing in the FA Cup for Burnley back in January

Hart has work to do if he is to displace Hugo Lloris as first choice.

But having arrived on a free after being released by Burnley, he could be a shrewd addition by Mourinho as Spurs chase a first major trophy since 2008.