LONDON (AP) — Harry Kane was once considered a slow starter of Premier League seasons.
Not this time.
The England captain scored for the third game in a row with his brace that earned Tottenham a 2-0 win at Nottingham Forest on Sunday and lifted Kane to third in the Premier League’s all-time goalscoring charts.
Kane also scored an equalizer in stoppage time against Chelsea in the second round and the winner against Wolverhampton last weekend.
Kane had never scored in the season-opening August until 2018, a streak of 15 games in different seasons. He also had a poor start to last season, after a summer move to Manchester City failed to materialize, before returning to form in the new year.
After a full pre-season, he started in the 2022-23 campaign – and should have had another goal to his name against Forest, only for a second-half penalty to be saved by Dean Henderson.
Also on Sunday, West Ham beat Aston Villa 1-0 to earn their first points of the season and Newcastle scored in the 90th minute to leave Wolverhampton with a 1-1 draw.
ASCEND
Kane scored in both halves to draw with Andrew Cole on 187 Premier League goals – behind only Alan Shearer (260) and Wayne Rooney (208) – and secure a continuation of his side’s unbeaten start to the season. Tottenham are third with 10 points from four games, two behind leaders Arsenal.
Kane’s perfect day was only ruined when Henderson’s second penalty save in consecutive home games ended the England striker’s streak of 21 successful kicks.
Antonio Conte’s Spurs found the perfect way to calm the ground by taking the lead after just five minutes. Kane’s touch sent Dejan Kulusevski away and, after stepping upfield, the Swede returned the ball to the England captain, who clinically found the bottom corner 20 yards out.
Tottenham were awarded a penalty eight minutes after the break as Steve Cook deliberately manipulated Ivan Perisic’s cross. When the penalty was finally taken after a VAR check, Henderson produced heroism again – just as he did against West Ham – as he dived full length to his right to fend off the powerful kick. Kane’s foot. It was Kane’s first missed kick for Tottenham since February 2018.
The visitors finally doubled their lead nine minutes from time. Richarlison collected the ball and sent a delicious cross that Kane headed into an empty net.
FIRST POINTS FOR WEST HAM
West Ham recorded their first points and first league goal of the season with victory at Aston Villa.
Pablo Fornals scored the game’s only goal. His second-half deflected strike was enough to see the Hammers open their account for the top-flight campaign following defeats to Manchester City, Nottingham Forest and Brighton.
The win will ease some of the pressure on West Ham manager David Moyes but increase the tension for his counterpart Steven Gerrard, whose side have been booed full-time.
Villa thought they had taken the lead in the 14th minute but Ezri Konsa’s goal was disallowed as Lucas Digne’s corner kick was slightly offside.
Fornals opened the scoring at Villa Park 16 minutes from time. Kurt Zouma moved the ball forward and found captain Declan Rice, who picked Fornals and the Spaniard’s 25-yard effort was deflected by Konsa and past Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez.
UNBEATEN MAGGIES
Allan Saint-Maximin’s superb 90th-minute equalizer saw Newcastle snatch a draw at Wolverhampton, salvaging their unbeaten start to the Premier League season.
Under pressure from Jacob Murphy, Hwang Hee-chan cut a clearance in the air and he fell for Saint-Maximin to hit a brilliant volley into the corner from 20 yards out.
The Magpies then almost flipped the game completely in stoppage time with Elliot Anderson hitting the crossbar.
Ruben Neves’ howler in the first half had given Wolves the lead.
Newcastle needed Saint-Maximin to produce as Eddie Howe was unable to bring in $70m new signing Alexander Isak, with the Sweden international yet to receive his work permit, while Bruno Guimaraes and Callum Wilson were injured.
The point does not raise hopes at Molineux, with Wolves still in search of the first league victory of the season.
SATURDAY GAMES
Liverpool blew Bournemouth 9-0 at Anfield on Saturday, equaling the record for the biggest ever Premier League win.
Manchester City’s Erling Haaland scored a second-half hat-trick as City rallied to beat Crystal Palace 4-2 at home.
Arsenal maintained their perfect start to the season as they rallied for a 2-1 win over Fulham.
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The Associated Press
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