After four years of construction hamstrung by disputes and delays, Tottenham finally moved into “New White Hart Lane” on Wednesday with all the pomp and razzmatazz of a night that could’ve ended in tragic hubristic downfall against Crystal Palace. But second half goals from Son Heung-min and Christian Eriksen sent 62,062 spectators home happy with Spurs climbing back to third in the table, one point above both Arsenal and Chelsea.
The prematch scene at the ground looked a lot more like the NFL London Games that’ll be hosted at this stadium over the next eight years, with fireworks exploding, people breaking into song and dance and a Tottenham Hotspur Marching Band making its existence known to all.
Incredible.#SpursAreHome #COYS pic.twitter.com/Q4Hmm8xAQT
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) April 3, 2019
Breathtaking.#SpursAreHome #COYS pic.twitter.com/Py4twoA6dN
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) April 3, 2019
Screenshot: NBCSN
It also briefly pissed down hail before we got things started.
The match kicked off to a cacophony of noise, a lot of it coming from the impressive South Stand, a single-tier which provides seating for 17,500 of the home support.
What we've been waiting for. #SpursAreHome #COYS pic.twitter.com/8Acj01h3N7
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) April 3, 2019
The match itself was no Barcelona-Villarreal, but the opener was a nice bit of solo work from Son.
GOALLLL Tottenham! Son scores the first goal in their new stadium! pic.twitter.com/0wAXs0yn0K
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) April 3, 2019
That was followed by Eriksen’s strike after Jacksonville Jaguars placekicker Harry Kane menaced his way through the area.
Eriksen goes down as the second goalscorer in the new stadium! pic.twitter.com/D4iQ0PLqy0
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) April 3, 2019
It was a proper celebration for Spurs at that point — the homecoming had been a success.
Welcome home, boss.#SpursAreHome #COYS pic.twitter.com/YJJZJ6wtnl
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) April 3, 2019
Half-time at Tottenham's new stadium—you know what that means pic.twitter.com/rlgVorOyjI
— B/R Football (@brfootball) April 3, 2019
But Spurs must quickly turn its attention to game No. 2 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium — next Tuesday’s visit of Manchester City for the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal. That’ll be the real housewarming party.
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