Hotspur Harry Kane (L) tackles the ball past Malaysia All Stars players during their friendly match in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. (AFP)
AFP/Kuala Lumpur
Harry Kane showed no ill effects of a gruelling season by hitting a first-half brace to give Tottenham Hotspur a 2-1 victory over a Malaysian select squad in a post-season friendly in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
The 21-year-old, who played 51 club games last season, got straight down to business from the kick-off, shooting straight at goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi, who also did well to parry an Andros Townsend effort five minutes later.
Tottenham duly took the lead in the 18th minute thanks to Kane, who stroked home a goal after Tom Carroll’s effort came off the post.
Kane has been Spurs’ standout performer this season, scoring 21 league goals to help the club to a fifth-place finish in the Premier League and breaking into the England side.
In Kuala Lumpur, he continued to benefit from the service provided by winger Townsend and Christian Eriksen in midfield, and saw a strike deflected just wide as the North London club threatened to extend their lead.
But the Malaysian side found themselves level on the half hour mark as Thiago Juninho outjumped Danny Rose to arrow an header past Hugo Lloris, much to the delight of the 28,500 local fans gathered at the Shah Alam Stadium.
Kane, however, restored Tottenham’s lead in the 41st minute, finishing off a slick move involving Carroll and Eriksen.
The second half paled in comparison to the first and the loudest cheers were reserved for Kane, who made way for Nacer Chadli in the 57th minute.
Spurs, who are making their first visit to Malaysia since 1979, are due to face off against Sydney FC in another friendly match in Australia on Saturday.
Ferdinand, Barton, Zamora released by QPR
Former Manchester United captain Rio Ferdinand and midfielder Joey Barton were among six players released by Queens Park Rangers on Wednesday following their relegation from the Premier League. The pair, along with striker Bobby Zamora, defender Richard Dunne, winger Shaun Wright-Phillips and goalkeeper Brian Murphy, have not been offered new contracts and will leave when their current deals expire on June 30.
Barton, Dunne and Zamora played a full part in QPR’s season, but Ferdinand, whose wife, Rebecca Ellison, died from cancer earlier this month, managed just 12 appearances following his move from United last year.