Back home: Bale gets his 1st goal, Tottenham beats Brighton

By: The Associated Press Posted: 3:47 PM CST Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020 Last Modified: 3:52 PM CST Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020

LONDON - Gareth Bale scored his first goal since returning to Tottenham and sealed a 2-1 victory over Brighton that sent Jose Mourinho's side second in the Premier League on Sunday.

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

LONDON - Gareth Bale scored his first goal since returning to Tottenham and sealed a 2-1 victory over Brighton that sent Jose Mourinho's side second in the Premier League on Sunday.

Read unlimited articles for free today:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 01/11/2020 (2118 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

LONDON – Gareth Bale scored his first goal since returning to Tottenham and sealed a 2-1 victory over Brighton that sent Jose Mourinho’s side second in the Premier League on Sunday.

Three minutes after replacing Erik Lamela in the second half Bale headed in a cross from Sergio Reguilon. Like Bale, Reguilon joined from Real Madrid in September.

Lamela was signed in 2013 to replace Bale at cost of a then club-record 30 million pounds (then $40 million) after Tottenham made 100 million euros (then $132 million) by selling the Welshman to Madrid.

Tottenham's Gareth Bale, left, is congratulated by teammates Sergio Reguilon and Son Heung-min, right, after scoring his team's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton & Hove Albion at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020.(Mike Hewitt/Pool via AP)

It was match-winning moments like Sunday’s goal in the 73rd minute that Tottenham want to see from Bale on his homecoming and it wiped out earlier frustration.

Refereeing had favoured Tottenham when a free kick was awarded after Adam Lallana fouled Harry Kane, only for VAR to see it upgraded to a penalty that Kane netted in the 13th.

But Brighton levelled in the 56th through Tariq Lamptey despite Tottenham’s Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg being fouled by Solly March in the buildup. After a lengthy review of the incident on a pitchside monitor, the referee appeared to determine that March got a touch on the ball so the goal stood.

Bale’s first goal for Tottenham since May 2013 gave the north London club its first home win of the season after losing to Everton and then drawing with Newcastle and West Ham after conceding in stoppage time in both games.

Tottenham is chasing a return to the Champions League after missing out on a top-four finish last season.