Sydney: Tottenham Hotspur secure pre-season win against Sydney FC on penalties
Tottenham Hotspur secured a pre-season victory over Sydney FC at Allianz Stadium on Wednesday, winning a penalty shootout after the match ended 1-1 in regular time. This result marks another win for Roberto De Zerbi‘s side in their pre-season campaign, following earlier victories against Milton Keynes and Auckland.
The match saw Mathys Tel open the scoring for Spurs with a free-kick in the 29th minute. Tel, who joined Tottenham in February 2025, was described by Spurs legend Ledley King as potentially the best player on the pitch in the first half. His goal put De Zerbi‘s team 1-0 up in their second match in Australia.
Sydney FC equalised in the second half through Takahiro Sekine, capitalising on an error from Kota Takai. The game then proceeded to a penalty shootout. In the shootout, Sydney‘s Joe Lacey hit the post, and Martin Dubravka saved Alex Popovic‘s attempt. Sandro Tonali, debutant Andy Robertson, and Dane Scarlett successfully converted their penalties, securing the win for Tottenham.
Player performances and squad rotation
The match featured Lucas Bergvall starting in a deeper midfield role alongside Archie Gray. Bergvall, a 20-year-old Sweden international, has reportedly received offers from Premier League rivals Newcastle and Nottingham Forest. De Zerbi stated his desire for Bergvall to remain with the club, acknowledging his potential as a top player, but also made it clear that a guaranteed starting role cannot be promised to any player.
De Zerbi also noted that Bergvall wishes to play as a double pivot, a position he occupied during the 1-1 draw. However, the recent arrivals of Matheus Fernandes from West Ham for £85m and Sandro Tonali from Newcastle for £100m have added competition in midfield. De Zerbi explained that the club needs a strong squad of 21 or 22 high-level players to compete at the highest levels, especially given the number of injuries suffered in recent seasons.
The Tottenham squad for the match included 10 academy players. Notable players such as James Maddison, Destiny Udogie, Kevin Danso, Dominic Solanke, Fernandes, Jan Paul van Hecke, and Micky van de Ven were not involved. De Zerbi clarified that players are in different stages of readiness, with some, like Archie Gray, Ben Davies, Tonali, and Mateus Fernandes, ready for longer playing times, while others, including Conor Gallagher, Mathys Tel, Manor Solomon, and Richarlison, are working to improve their condition.
Managerial insights and future outlook
De Zerbi admitted that he made errors in his handling of Bergvall towards the end of the previous season, which concluded with Spurs securing Premier League safety on the final day against Everton. Despite this, he maintains a clear stance with Bergvall, stating, “I would like that he stays with us.” He emphasised that he would not try to convince anyone to stay if they did not want to, noting that if Bergvall asks to leave again, CEO Vinai Venkatesham and sporting director Johan Lange would manage his exit on favourable terms for Spurs.
Andy Robertson made his debut for Spurs in the second half, having joined on a free transfer from Liverpool. His appearance was a notable moment in the pre-season fixture. The team’s next fixture is against Chelsea this weekend.
The pre-season tour has seen Tottenham build momentum, with the victory over Sydney FC adding to their earlier wins. De Zerbi‘s focus remains on building a robust squad capable of competing, highlighting the need for depth to manage potential injuries and maintain a high level of performance throughout the season.
Mathys Tel‘s goal against Sydney FC was his first in pre-season, after scoring four times in 42 games for Spurs in all competitions last term.
Source: bbc.com
Reuben Castle is the Sports News Writer at News GB, covering rugby union, golf and boxing with six years of reporting experience. He moved from print into digital sport news. He holds a degree in Journalism from Coventry University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Coventry, he follows the Open Championship and amateur boxing. “Accuracy first; the analysis can follow.”
