Tottenham Hotspur cruised into the Carabao Cup third round with a commanding 5-1 victory over Charlton Athletic at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The win, which featured a debut goal from new signing Savio, provided a welcome response to their opening-day Premier League defeat.
Mikey Moore broke the deadlock four minutes before half-time, crashing a left-footed strike off the crossbar for Spurs' first goal of the new season. Dominic Solanke doubled the lead just before the interval, rifling home after Charlton failed to clear a corner. Kevin Danso added a third with his first touch, heading in a Mateus Fernandes free-kick in the 67th minute.
Savio makes instant impact
The main attraction arrived in the 71st minute when Savio was introduced. The Brazilian winger, who completed an £85 million move from Manchester City earlier in the week, needed just 11 minutes to find the net. He cut inside and drilled a low effort into the bottom corner, sparking big celebrations in front of the South Stand. He thought he had a brace moments later, but a deflected effort was eventually credited as a Ben Davies goal. Lloyd Jones headed a late consolation for the visitors.
Manager Roberto De Zerbi had promised to take the competition seriously, making only five changes to his side. The comprehensive performance and result will boost confidence ahead of a busy period, with the full fixtures list showing a packed schedule. Charlton's night was marred by injuries, with defender Collins Sichenje stretchered off with a knee problem after just 15 minutes. Spurs' next assignment is a Premier League clash this weekend as they look to build on this cup momentum.
