Tottenham 1-1 Newcastle: Son's emotional final match for Spurs ends in a draw

Son Heung-min's emotional final match for the Spurs ended in a 1-1 draw as Tottenham Hotspur concluded their Asia pre-season tour against Newcastle United at the Seoul World Cup Stadium in South Korea.

Just a day after announcing his intention to leave Spurs, Son captained the side in front of a passionate home crowd. New Head Coach Thomas Frank selected Son to start, and his substitution in the 64th minute drew warm embraces from teammates and fans alike, marking a poignant moment in the game.

Brennan scored early for Spurs

The match began with Spurs taking an early lead in the fourth minute. Kevin Danso won possession deep in Newcastle’s half, allowing Brennan Johnson to break forward and slot a precise low finish into the bottom corner. Johnson celebrated with a tribute to Son, delighting the 64,773-strong crowd.

Magpies leveled before the half-time

Newcastle responded with increased possession and created several chances, including a shot from Anthony Gordon that went narrowly wide. Spurs nearly doubled their lead when Mathys Tel burst past the defense, only to be denied by goalkeeper Nick Pope’s composed leg save.

Newcastle leveled in the 38th minute through Harvey Barnes. A quick midfield move opened space down their left flank, with Barnes cutting inside to fire a fierce shot past Spurs’ goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky. The remainder of the first half saw tight battles but no further goals.

Son's emotional goodbye

The second half saw Newcastle push for a winner, with Gordon’s close-range effort ruled out for offside. Spurs struggled to create clear opportunities, and the game settled into a midfield tussle.

Son was subbed off in the 64th minute as the whole stadium gave him a standing ovation.

Tragically, late in the match, Spurs midfielder James Maddison was forced off on a stretcher after pulling up in distress with no one near him, casting a shadow over the fixture.

Line-ups:

Spurs (4-2-3-1): Kinsky; Pedro Porro (Spence 46), Danso, Romero (van de Ven 46), Davies (Vuskovic 80); Bentancur (Bergvall 46), Gray (Maddison 75, Yang 86); Johnson (Odobert 75), Sarr (Bissouma 62), Son (c) (Kudus 64); Tel (Richarlison 62).

Newcastle United (4-3-3): Pope (Gillespie 82); Trippier (Hall 77), Schar (Krafth 82), Burn, Targett (Livramento 62); Joelinton, Guimaraes (c), Miley; Murphy (Park 77), Gordon (Osula 62), Barnes (Elanga 82).