Tottenham's Dominance Shines as Savio Sparks Second-Half Rout

Tottenham did not so much grow into this game as detonate it. For 40-odd minutes they prodded and probed, patient and dominant without quite landing the punch. Then, on the stroke of half-time, two blows in three minutes ripped the contest away and set up a second-half procession.

First came Mikey Moore. The teenager, already carrying the air of a player who belongs, broke the deadlock with a flash of individual brilliance, a moment that instantly changed the temperature inside the stadium. Strong under pressure, tight control, defenders bouncing off him as he wriggled through challenges – it was the sort of goal that announces a season, maybe even a career.

Charlton barely had time to reset before Dominic Solanke twisted the knife. Dropping in, rolling his marker, finishing with the calm of a striker who knows this system is built for him, he doubled the lead and sent Spurs into the break 2-0 up and in complete control.

Tempo from the back, thrust in midfield

At the base of it all, Jan Paul van Hecke dictated the rhythm. The Dutchman misplaced just six of his 96 passes, repeatedly threading the ball into the final third and setting the platform for Spurs’ territorial dominance. Beside him, Ben Davies was solid and unruffled, barely troubled defensively and later, somewhat sheepishly, credited with a goal when Savio’s strike deflected off him and wrong-footed the goalkeeper.

Destiny Udogie, on his first start of the season, used the evening to bank valuable minutes and shake off rust. He threw himself into challenges and, as the game opened up, started to show the aggressive, forward-running edge that has made him such a key outlet on the left.

In midfield, Rodrigo Bentancur took a while to settle, mixing the odd rash moment with his usual composure. Once Spurs tightened their grip on possession, he began to dominate the central areas – strong but fair in the tackle, always willing to receive under pressure and recycle quickly. Lucas Bergvall, eager to respond after a difficult outing against Brentford, looked far more assured on the ball, using simple, confident touches to keep Spurs moving.

Then there was Mateus Fernandes. On his full debut, the £85million summer signing began to show why Spurs pushed so hard to get him. At his best he glided out of tight spaces, turning away from pressure and driving through the middle with purpose. His most telling contribution came from a dead ball: a deft, clipped delivery that invited Kevin Danso to attack it.

Impact from the bench, statement from Savio

Danso needed only one touch. Thrown on from the bench, he met Fernandes’ 67th-minute free-kick with a firm header, taking a whack to the head in the process but powering in Spurs’ third. For a defender who prides himself on clean sheets, the late concession will sting, yet his impact at the other end was instant and emphatic.

By then, though, the stage belonged to Savio.

The £85million forward entered to huge noise and wasted no time justifying the hype. Picking up the ball on the edge of the box, he drove a low, powerful effort beyond the goalkeeper to claim his first Spurs goal. De Zerbi had demanded more end product from the Brazilian; he got it in ruthless fashion.

Savio’s second major act came with a slice of fortune. Another effort, again struck with intent, cannoned off Davies and flew in, leaving Charlton’s defence pleading in vain for a break that never came. Officially, the goal went down as a Davies deflection, but the move and the menace belonged to Savio.

Around him, the supporting cast kept the pressure on. Mathys Tel buzzed across the front line, heavily involved but unable to find the finish his work-rate deserved. Solanke continued to win foul after foul as he dropped deep and protected the ball, showing exactly why he should be De Zerbi’s first-choice centre-forward once fully fit. Out wide, Archie Gray ran tirelessly to link with Moore, even if his final ball too often let him down, while his one-on-one duels with Millenic Alli saw him err on the side of caution.

Pedro Porro’s introduction underlined how different Spurs look with his attacking thrust from full-back, offering angles and overlaps that stretched a tiring Charlton side even further.

Charlton’s resistance and the late blemish

For Charlton, goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky emerged with credit, producing a strong save in each half and doing his best to keep the scoreline respectable. His frustration at losing the clean sheet late on will linger, but without him the damage could have been heavier.

That late consolation, headed in by Jones, denied Danso and the rest of Spurs’ back line the shut-out their dominance had threatened. It was a rare lapse in an otherwise controlled defensive display, one that will irritate De Zerbi even on a night when his attack ran riot.

Still, the story here was Tottenham’s depth and their edge. Moore lighting the fuse. Fernandes and Savio showing why the club have spent so heavily. Solanke playing like a centre-forward around whom a season can be built.

If this is what Spurs look like while still searching for full sharpness, what happens when this machine really starts to hum?