Son Heung-min scores late winning goal as Luton Drop into Premier League Relegation Zone

Son Heung-min scored an 86th-minute goal as Tottenham Hotspur came from behind to earn a deserved 2-1 win over relegation-threatened Luton Town.

Tahith Chong had fired the Hatters into a third-minute lead to stun the home crowd, and Rob Edwards’ men defended their advantage until the 51st minute when Issa Kabore sliced Brennan Johnson’s cross into his own net. 

Son finally broke Luton hearts with four minutes of normal time remaining, seeing his shot deflected past Luton keeper Thomas Kaminski at the end of a blistering counter attack.

Only three minutes had elapsed at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium when former Spurs man Andros Townsend raced down the right flank and passed to Ross Barkley, who picked out Chong on the left side of the penalty area. The midfielder took one delicate touch to set himself before lashing across goal into the bottom right corner, sending the 3,000 travelling fans wild. 

Spurs should have equalised straight away when Timo Werner broke forward and tied Kabore in knots, but could only shoot inches wide of Kaminski’s post. 

Despite Luton’s ongoing injury woes, the Hatters were bold and aggressive in their approach to the game, but played themselves into trouble when Teden Mengi’s short pass to Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu was intercepted by Pape Matar Sarr. 

As Tottenham broke away, Dejan Kulusevski swiftly passed to Son who skilfully rounded Kaminski. However, the South Korean’s luck was out as his shot hit both posts. Kabore then blocked Werner’s shot with his chest and Mengi miraculously cleared Sarr’s fierce strike off the goal line.

Town were fortunate to take their lead into the half-time break, and their luck run out six minutes into the second half when Johnson – who had come on for Kulusevski at half time – crossed dangerously in front of the Luton goal, and Kabore could only skew into the net with his shin. 

The equalising goal finally stirred the previously tepid Tottenham crowd, and they were almost celebrating another goal when Pedro Porro crossed from the right and Son swept towards the target, but Kaminski blocked with his legs. 

Having become the first player to score for Luton in each of the top four divisions with his late equaliser against Nottingham Forest, Luke Berry was handed a start against Spurs. He acquitted himself well until being substituted for Jordan Clark on 63 minutes. 

Just two minutes after his introduction, Clark controlled Vicario’s punched clearance with his chest on the edge of the box, volleying towards the bottom corner. The Spurs keeper scrambled back across his line, dived down to his right and tipped the ball round the post. 

Spurs regained control and came within millimetres of taking the lead for the first time on 78 minutes. Werner’s incisive pass released substitute Giovani Lo Celso down the left flank. He pulled back from the byline to Johnson who was waiting to tap in from three yards.

Unbelievably, the Englishman’s effort hit Kaminski and rolled along the goal-line, with Alfie Doughty booting off the line. All inside the stadium waited in anticipation for referee Jarred Gillett to award a goal, but replays showed a tiny fraction of the ball had not crossed the line.

The Luton side – which has been decimated by injuries in recent weeks – fought valiantly in an attempt to emerge with a point, but were the architects of their own downfall in the 86th minute. Barkley’s corner was headed away at the front post and Clark miscued a volleyed pass on the edge of the box.

Tottenham broke rapidly down the left flank and Werner centred for Johnson who laid off to Son. Multiple Town defenders threw themselves in front of Son's low shot, and Daiki Hashioka was the unfortunate man to deflect the effort beyond the helpless Kaminski, marking Son’s 160th goal for Spurs.

With the fans in the steep and imposing North End bouncing in celebration, the exhausted Town players had no response in stoppage time, sliding back into the relegation zone. Tottenham meanwhile remained in 5th place, but moved within three points of fourth-placed Aston Villa in the hunt for Champions League qualification.