Mateus Fernandes scored a notable goal within three minutes of his Tottenham debut in a behind-closed-doors friendly on Wednesday. The goal helped secure a 1-0 victory over League One side MK Dons. Fernandes described the strike as the best of his career.
The midfielder, a summer acquisition from West Ham, struck a first-time volley into the top corner from range. This effort came after MK Dons goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray punched a corner clear. Fernandes positioned himself to meet the ball from 20 yards, with the shot hitting the post before entering the net.
Fernandes, who joined Tottenham for £85m, expressed his satisfaction with the goal. He stated, “It was my favourite goal of my career. By a mile.” He also added, “I need to do this more and more times, to shoot outside of the box, I know that I can do it. This just gives me confidence for the rest of the days.”
Debut Appearances and Midfield Partnership
Alongside Fernandes, Sandro Tonali also made his first appearance for Tottenham. Tonali, a £100m signing from Newcastle, partnered Fernandes in a midfield double pivot. The pair played together for the first half, with both departing at half-time as manager Roberto de Zerbi made changes to the squad.
During their time on the pitch, Fernandes and Tonali were noted for dominating the midfield. Tonali was described as decisive on the ball and used his experience to guide his new teammates. Their combined cost was £185m, and fans have shown interest in how they might contribute to the team’s progress.
Another player making his debut was goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, who joined on a free transfer from Burnley in June. Dubravka came on at half-time for Antonin Kinsky. He made a sharp save from close range, reacting quickly to push a header from six yards over the bar to thwart an attack at the near post.
Former Tottenham defender Sebastian Bassong commented on Fernandes’ goal, comparing it to notable strikes by Gareth Bale against Stoke City and Zinedine Zidane’s volley against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League. Bassong highlighted Fernandes’ balance, quality, and connection with the ball, calling him a “gifted player.”
Pre-Season Preparations and Squad Changes
The friendly match against MK Dons served as an opening pre-season fixture for Tottenham. While not considered a true test due to the opponent being from two divisions lower, the game still provided moments of quality for supporters. The match was played at Hotspur Way, Enfield, under cloudy and warm conditions with a temperature of 26 degrees at kick-off.
The first-half lineup for Tottenham included Kinsky, Gray, Takai, Davies, Kyerematen, Tonali, Fernandes, Gallagher, Solomon, Tel, and Solanke. The second half saw a completely changed lineup with Dubravka, Tye Hall, Hardy, Byrne, Kyerematen, Donley, Williams-Barnett, Moore, Yang, Scarlett, and Richarlison taking to the field.
The team controlled possession during the match, though clear-cut chances were limited against MK Dons’ 5-4-1 system. MacGillivray made saves from Dominic Solanke and Manor Solomon. Richarlison had a goal disallowed for offside, and Mikey Moore’s goal-bound strike was blocked.
There was also a return to action for Ben Davies, who had been out since January. Kota Takai and Manor Solomon also featured after loan spells last season. The referee for the match was Constantine Hatzidakis.
Tottenham’s recent weeks have seen an upward swing, moving from a Premier League relegation battle to survival, followed by the acquisition of two record signings. This trajectory has occurred under manager De Zerbi, who was brought in after Igor Tudor’s struggles last term.
The team is scheduled to fly to New Zealand on Thursday for their pre-season tour. They will face A-League side Auckland in a friendly at Eden Park on Sunday, with kick-off at 04:00 BST.
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Source: bbc.com
Freya Donnelly is the Sports Reporter at News-UK, covering tennis, cricket and athletics with seven years of reporting experience. She reported on Team GB through an Olympic cycle. She holds a degree in Sport and Media from the University of Brighton and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Brighton, she plays club cricket in the summer. “Listening is the most underrated skill in sports reporting.”
