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Post-Season Friendlies
May 27, 2015 at 1.45pm UK
 
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1-2

Rose (32' og.)
FT(HT: 1-2)
Kane (19', 43')

Live Commentary: Malaysia XI 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's live coverage of Tottenham Hotspur's friendly against Malaysia XI in Kuala Lumpur.
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Two first-half goals from Harry Kane have given Tottenham Hotspur a 2-1 win over Malaysia XI in a post-season friendly in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon.

The striker opened the scoring after 19 minutes, before an own goal from Danny Rose got the hosts back on level terms, but Kane struck again before the break.

Terengganu striker Paolo Rangel did have the ball in the back of the net for the Malaysian side as well, but his effort was ruled out for offside.

Read how all the action unfolded below.


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Good afternoon! Tottenham Hotspur begin their brief post-season tour of Asia and Australia. Mauricio Pochettino's side face a team made up of the best players from the Malaysian League this afternoon, so let's start with a look at the squads...

MALAYSIA XI STARTING LINEUP: Khairul, Cornwaithe, Bashirudin, Harun, Ali, Rangel, Mahyuddin, Juninho, Azmi, Tie, De Paulo

TOTTENHAM STARTING LINEUP: Lloris, Yedlin, Dier, Vertonghen, Rose, Carroll, Stambouli, Townsend, Eriksen, Winks, Kane

For the home side, Selangor and FELDA United are both well-represented this afternoon. There are a few of the Malaysian Super League's overseas players included too, with Selangor defender and Australia international Robert Cornthwaite and Brazilians Paulo Rangel, Thiago Juninho and Guilherme de Paula all included. PDRM striker Ali Ashfaq also starts. He has over 100 caps for the Maldives national side, and has scored 22 goals in 24 appearances since joining the Malaysian club.

Many of Tottenham's regular first team feature this afternoon, including top scorer Harry Kane. Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has the captain's armband, while 19-year-old midfielder Harry Winks also gets a start. He made his debut in the Europa League earlier this season, replacing Paulinho late on against Partizan.

Here's the Spurs side going through their warmup at the Shah Alam Stadium. The ground has a capacity of more than 80,000, but a crowd of around 19,000 is expected for today's fixture:


This is Tottenham's first visit to Malaysia since 1979. The club seems to have a solid fan base in the region though, with a Malaysian branch of the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters Club opening in 2010. The supporters club claims to have over 170m fans in the Far East.

Malaysia XI play against English clubs quite regularly. Since July 2011, they've twice faced Arsenal and Chelsea, as well as hosting Liverpool and Manchester City. Their only win over an English club was back in 1975 though, when Arsenal were beaten 2-0. Malaysia XI's last outing was in August 2013, when they were beaten 3-1 by Barcelona.

Harry Kane has also been going through his warmup. The England international will only have a short break after this tour before he joins us with Gareth Southgate's England Under-21 side for the European Championships. Kane's goal against Everton on Sunday left him with 21 in the league and 33 in all competitions for the season:


The players are just starting to make their way out ready for kickoff. As expected, it's nowhere near capacity in the stadium, but there's a big cheer for the two teams.

Before the match can get underway, both sides have to meet a number of dignitaries, which will be followed by the national anthem. Part of the reason for the smaller crowd is a protest by Malaysia Super League fans who believe that the visit of foreign clubs to play the Malaysia XI disrupts their domestic season.

Right then, it looks like all the pre-match formalities are completed, so the squads go into their huddles for a few final thoughts before the action gets underway.

KICKOFF! Spurs get the action underway.

The home side are on the attack from the start as Rangel controls a high ball forward before flicking the ball into the path of De Paula, but Rose gets it clear. The Brazilian striker tries to get back in again moments later, but is flagged offside. De Paula looks like he's got pace to spare though, and could be a bit of a handful.

Paolo Angel shows that he is just as handy down the left flank as he sprints past Yedlin, but his cross in towards De Paula is blocked. Spurs finally manage to get down the other end on the counter-attack, but Juninho turns Carroll's chipped cross behind for a corner.

Harry Kane tries to create an opening for the visitors as he attempts to slot the ball though to Eriksen, but Joseph Kalang Tie is there to make the block. Spurs are starting to see a bit more of the ball after an impressive start by the Malaysia XI, but the hosts look well-organised at the back too.

CHANCE! Danny Rose is undone by the pacy Joseph, forcing the defender to concede a free kick on the edge of the box. The winger curls it in himself, delivering the ball to De Paula, but Lloris just beats the striker to it, punching it clear.

Tottenham have a free kick in a dangerous position themselves now as Thiago Juninho catches Andros Townsend from behind. Townsend tries to lift the ball over the wall from around 25 yards out, but the wall does it's job, turning it behind for another corner.

CHANCE! Spurs are starting to build a bit of pressure now, with Kane winning the ball back quickly, and trying his luck from outside the box with a curling effort, but it's at a comfortable height for Khairul Fahmi Che Mat to deal with in the Malaysia XI goal.

CHANCE! No sooner have Spurs started to look the sharper of the two sides than Malaysia XI are back down the other end. Harry Winks loses out to De Paula, allowing the striker to cut inside before trying to squeeze the ball past Lloris from a tight angle, but he can't quite make the angle. Tottenham have been rather loose at the back so far, leaving the door open for the home side far too often.

CHANCES! Kaihrul has to make his first real stop of the afternoon as Yedlin comes out from the back to set up Townsend, but the midfielder's low strike is well saved by the keeper. Harry Kane gets another chance moments later from the rebound, but the keeper makes another diving stop to keep it out.

Townsend makes another solid run down the right as Spurs try to continue their bright spell, but he's dispossessed by a well-timed challenge from Ronny Harun. It looks like Mauricio Pochettino's side are just trying to slow the pace down a little after a frantic start to the match.

CHANCE! Kane is involved again as Eriksen picks out the striker on the edge of the box, but Khairul pulls off another stop to deny the England international. The Malaysia XI stopper has certainly had some work to do in the last 10 minutes, but he's been equal to it so far.

GOAL! Malaysia XI 0-1 Tottenham Hotspur (Harry Kane)

Tom Carroll unleashes a low strike from the edge of the six-yard block, which Khairul just manages to turn onto the post, but it comes back out to Kane, who wastes no time stabbing it into the back of the net to give Tottenham the lead.

Eriksen and Townsend link up through the middle again as Tottenham quickly push for a second. Carroll eventually has it on the edge of the box and tries to slide it in for Kane, but Carroll is just a little too quick for his teammate.

DISALLOWED GOAL! Paolo Rangel thinks he's equalised for Malaysia XI, but a late flag from the assistant referee confirms that the Brazilian was offside as Ronny's long ball into the box was played.

A one-two between Winks and Townsend almost leaves the latter clean through on goal, but Winks' chip to the midfielder was a fraction overhit, allowing Khairul to rush off his line and claim it. Townsend in particular has been really impressive so far this afternoon.

CHANCE! Yedlin makes another quick run down the right before pulling it back to Eriksen, who squares it for Tom Carroll. The youngster tries to drill the ball into the top corner from 20 yards out, but his finish fails to force the keeper into action.

Spurs are really pushing for the second goal now as Winks tees the ball up for Carroll again, but Ronny Harun beats him to the ball, booting it clear for Malaysia XI.

CHANCE! Townsend causes more problems for the home side's defender as he bursts into the box before cutting it back for Kane. The ball just bobbles a little though, making Kane's first touch more difficult, and he ends up blasting it well high from just a couple of yards out.

GOAL! Malaysia XI 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur (Danny Rose OG)

Despite Spurs seemingly in complete control, the home side are back on level terms. Malaysia XI have a free kick, which Indra Putra Mahyuddin curls in towards Thiago Juninho. The defender is being marked by Danny Rose, and the Tottenham man gets to it first, but can't avoid turning it into his own net. The stadium announcer actually credits the goal to Juninho, but it was definitely Rose who got the last touch.

Tottenham are quickly trying to create something back down the other end, with Townsend once again leading the charge. The midfielder wants a free kick when he clashes with Zubir Mohd Azmi, but the referee waves for the teams to play on. Apparently Zubir is referred to as the Malaysian Patrice Evra in his home country!

CHANCE! Lloris is under pressure against as Tottenham continue to leave wide open caps at the back. Rangel unleashes a vicious strike from 25 yards out, forcing a stop from the French keeper at full stretch.

CHANCE! Rangel gets another sight of the Tottenham goal as the Malaysia XI confidently play the ball through the middle, leaving Joseph to pick out the striker with a though ball, but his low finish goal wide of the post.

CHANCES! Harry Kane tries to go for goal from a free kick, but it's curled straight into the arms of the keeper. That launches Malaysia down the other end, with Ashfaq Ali finding himself one-on-one with Lloris, but he can't keep the finish on target.

GOAL! Malaysia XI 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur (Harry Kane)

Kane hits it first time from the centre of the penalty area as Carroll sends a low cross in for the striker, leading Kane to rifle home his second of the match.

CHANCE! Malaysia try to get back on level terms again before the interval with a free kick from 40 yards out. Indra Putra has provided a couple of dangerous deliveries from set pieces so far for the home side, but he goes for goal this time, and the ball almost dips under the crossbar, but Lloris just gets his fingertips to it to push it behind.

HALF TIME: Malaysia XI 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur

At half time, Harry Kane's brace leaves Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 up, after an own goal from Danny Rose has briefly brought the Malaysia XI back on level terms.

It will be interesting to see whether Kane gets a chance to complete his hat-trick or not. Spurs have a 12-man bench, and with it being a friendly, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Pochettino make wholesale changes to his side during the interval, particularly with the Kuala Lumpur heat and a trip to Sydney still to come.

Here's a shot of Andros Townsend from the first half courtesy of the club's Twitter feed. Kane may have scored the goals, but Townsend has probably been the best player on the pitch in the first half, proving himself near-impossible to mark down the right flank:


The players are starting to make their way back out ready for the second half. It looks like there's a few changes for Tottenham, but Harry Kane isn't one of them, as he leads the team back out.

RESTART! Malaysia XI get the action back underway.

SUBS! There were quite a few changes for Pochettino at half time with Michel Vorm, Kyle Walker-Peters, Erik Lamela, Nabil Bentaleb and Grant Ward all coming into the team.

CHANCE! The home side begin the second half like they did the first, with Rangel crossing the ball in for De Paula, who heads the ball just high of the crossbar.

SUB! There was also a half-time change for the home side as Robert Cornthwaite makes way for Muslim Ahmad.

CHANCE! Spurs make their way back towards the Malaysia XI goal for the first time since the restart, with Kane looking to get the cross in for Ward, but his cross is blocked by Juninho. Walker-Peters wins it back in midfield before attempting to curl it in from the edge of the box, but it flies just wide.

Harry Kane looks keen to complete his hat-trick as soon as possible at the start of this second half as Yedlin bursts down the right before rifling a low cross into the box for the striker. The keeper reacts well though, snatching it from the forward's feet to prevent the shot.

CHANCE! Kane is at it again as he controls a high ball into the box with ease before rounding Harun and attempting to squeeze the ball beneath Khairul, but his slightly mis-hits the shot, forcing it just wide.

Dier gets caught out by a well-timed through-ball from Joseph, but Stambouli reacts well for Spurs, beating Rangel to the ball to prevent the striker attempting an equaliser.

CHANCE! Lamela takes the ball away from the keeper, but a heavy touch leaves him wide. He looks for Bentaleb, but his cross in is a poor one, and ends up being easily cleared. Meanwhile Bentaleb appears to have found a flare or firework on the pitch!

SUBS! Spurs make a couple more changes. Josh Onomah and Nacer Chadli come on for Tom Carroll and Harry Kane, so there will be no hat-trick for the striker today.

SUBS! Malaysia XI make a couple of changes too, replacing Putra and Joseph with Ahmad Syamim Bin Yahya and Christi Jayaselan.

CHANCE! A lovely build up from Tottenham finishes with a weak shot from Lamela. Wink and Bentaleb work well together on the edge of the box, resulting in Winks slotting a through-ball in for Lamela, but he can only scuff the ball well wide.

CHANCE! Spurs are trying a few different things now that they've made some changes, with Yedlin getting forward again to unleash a low drive from the edge of the box, but the keeper is ready to make the save.

SUB! Malaysia XI make another change, with Yong Kuong Yong taking over from Ronny Harun. Yong is one of the few players in the squad to play in Malaysia's second tier with Penang FC.

Yedlin gives the ball away inside the Malaysia half, allowing Bashirudin to charge towards the Spurs goal. Sensing danger, Bentaleb concedes the free kick, bringing the defender down around 30 yards out, but also giving Spurs time to get some numbers back.

Tempers flare a little as Waler-Peters and De Paula battle for the ball, resulting in the Malaysia man being flagged offside, but the referee quickly separates the pair after the Brazilian appeared to throw the ball at the young Tottenham player.

SUBS! Malaysia make three more changes. Bashirudin went off injured as a result of his clash with Bentaleb, bringing Ahmad Hazwan Bakri on. Keeper Khairul is replaced by Mohd Zamir Selamat, while De Paula is also off, with Idlan taking his place.

BOOKING! The first yellow card of the game goes to Erik Lamela as he catches Syamin Yahya down the inside of his thigh with his studs. That was a nasty looking clash, and it's left the Malaysia winger in quite some pain.

SUB! It's another change for the home side as Muslim Asmi comes on for the final 15 minutes in place of Zubir Azmi.

There certainly haven't been as many chances in the last 15 minutes or so, with the majority of the action taking place in midfield. Bentaleb tries to force a shot from 35 yards out, but it doesn't trouble the substitute keeper.

SUB! Yet another Malaysia change sees Afif Bun Amirudin coming on for Thiago Juninho, who has been superb at the back for the home side today.

CHANCE! Malaysia have a free kick in a promising position as Stambouli clatters into the back as Ashfaq Ali. Rangel lines it up, but Michel Vorm leaps to push it around the far post.

CHANCE! Spurs are so close to adding a third as Bentaleb crosses the ball in for Chadli, who rises high in the box to try to head in at the near post, but Zamir Selamat make a fingertip save to keep the home side in the game.

DeAndre Yedlin launches a long ball forward as Spurs continue to push for a third to put the win beyond doubt in the final stages. Chadli's first touch is lacking, but manage to force a corner from it.

Spurs appear to have settled for the 2-1 scoreline as they just hold on to the ball in the middle for the final couple of minutes to run the clock down. Malaysia have certainly given a good account of themselves in this match, but were just undone by a couple of stunning finishes from Kane in the first half.

There are three minutes of stoppage time for the home side to try to push for an equaliser. Tottenham are looking to more likely though as Onomah and Yedlin look for a way through the middle.

CHANCE! Lamela knocks the ball in for Winks, and the teenager hits it on the half-volley in a bit to clinch the win for the Premier League side, but his shot was always rising and ends up comfortably clearing the crossbar.

FULL TIME: Malaysia XI 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur

So two first-half goal from Harry Kane are enough to hand Tottenham the win in the first of two post-season friendlies. Malaysia XI can be proud of their performance, as can a number of the Spurs youngsters who got a run out this afternoon.

That's all from this match, but Spurs will be in action again on Saturday morning when they take on Sydney FC in Australia. Until then, thanks for joining me this afternoon. Goodbye.

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