• Harry Kane scores only goal of the game as Tottenham beat Sydney
• The Tottenham striker also scored twice in win over Malaysia XI 
• Kane will play for England Under 21s at European Championship

By

Sami Mokbel for MailOnline

Published:
11:56 GMT, 30 May 2015

|
Updated:
12:53 GMT, 30 May 2015

In the end Gareth Southgate was able to breath a sigh of relief.

But the England Under-21 manager will feel he was forced to hold it for longer than he had to.

Once more, Harry Kane was the difference in Tottenham’s final post-season tour match here in Australia. 

Harry Kane is congratulated after scoring in Tottenham’s post-season friendly against Sydney

Kane lines up the ball following Erik Lamela’s through ball before shooting to score the opener for Tottenham

Kane wheels away to celebrate as Sydney players lay on the floor having been beaten by the Spurs striker

He followed up his brace in Wednesday’s win over a Malaysia XI with the winner against Sydney FC.

But just 19 days before England Under 21s kick off their European Championship campaign, Kane played virtually all of this friendly.

In the end Southgate and Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino will be content, if not entirely happy, with regards to Kane.

Tottenham would prefer Kane not to play for Under-21’s this summer; likewise Southgate would not have wanted his star striker to have played 84 minutes in a meaningless tour match.

So, perhaps, it’s even-Stevens.

Pochettino, though, will now endure an uncomfortable summer hoping Spurs’ poster-boy doesn’t pick up an injury that’ll threaten his availability for the start of the next season.

On Saturday, the Argentine manager had another look at right-back DeAndre Yedlin following the American’s debut against a Malaysian XI on Wednesday against the Australians.

However, Danny Rose (thigh), Roberto Soldado (foot) and Federico Fazio (illness) missed the clash through injury.

Erik Lamela squandered the first chance, glancing Andros Townsend’s wicked inswinging cross over the bar from close range. 

Tottenham wideman Nacer Chadli attenpts to get the better of Sydney’s Sebastian Ryall

Tottenham midfielder Benjamin Stambouli holds off the challenge of Sydney’s Shane Smeltz

Townsend was in the thick of the action during the early stages, firing over the bar from distance before he was denied by Ivan Necevski after racing through in the 10th minute.

Christopher Naumoff tested Hugo Lloris with a low shot a few seconds later, the Frenchman comfortably saving the winger’s low new-post shot.

Lamela went agonisingly close to scoring an audacious Rabona flick from the edge of the area in the 21st minute, but his effort flew narrowly wide.

Christian Eriksen fired well over the bar in the 28th minute as Sydney only half-cleared Yedlin’s low cross.

And Tottenham should have been made to pay for their wastefulness in the 33rd minute after Yedlin gifted the hosts a golden opportunity.

The American played a reckless square pass across the face of his area that was cut out by Alex Brosque.

Having rounded Lloris, the Sydney forward only had to roll the ball into an empty net – but his effort was cleared off the line by the back-tracking Jan Vertonghen.

It was a huge let-off for the visitors, who were well in control. 

Syndey’s Chris Naumoff moves forward with the ball under pressure from Andros Townsend

Tottenham midfielder Christian Eriksen reacts after missing an opportunity for the visitors

Naumoff then fired a fierce left foot over the bar as Sydney gradually took a foothold in the game.

It didn’t last for long, though – thanks to you know who.

Kane showed his human side by fluffing his lines in front of goal after Townsend’s clever cut back in the 39th minute.

But normal service was resumed two minutes before the break as the prolific striker fired an unerringly accurate finish past Necevski following Lamela’s well-weighted pass.

Sydney emerged for the second period with a greater sense of purpose following Kane’s strike just before the break.

Bernie Ibini-Isei saw his long range effort saved by Michel Vorm, who was one of four half-time substitutions from Pochettino.

Tottenham’s Argentina international Erik Lamela chases the ball down ahead of Sydney’s Rhyan Grant

Sydney’s Bernie Ibini-Isei holds off the challenge of Tottenham’s Nabil Bentaleb as Lamela watches on

Substitute George Blackwood then escaped Yedlin’s attentions to bear down on Vorm’s goal, but the American recovered to deny the 18-year-old.

Kane nearly doubled his tally in the 70th minute, his shot cleared off the line by Seb Ryall after tricky play from Nacer Chadli.

The striker went close again in the 73rd minute, firing Tom Carroll’s low free-kick wide before youngster Grant Ward fired an angled shot straight at Necevski in the 79th minute.

Kane’s night finally came to an end in the 84th minute when he was replaced by Josh Onomah.

By then, though, as has become standard this season, Kane had already struck the killer blow.

England will hope for a similar tale in the Czech Republic next month.

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