Tottenham Secure 2-0 Victory Over Reading in Pre-Season Friendly
Tottenham Hotspur began their pre-season campaign with a 2-0 victory over Reading at the Select Car Leasing Stadium on July 19, 2025. The match marked the debut of newly appointed head coach Thomas Frank. A crowd of 22,133, Reading's highest in over three and a half years, witnessed a game of two halves, with Tottenham's second-half performance proving decisive.
Tepid First Half Ends Goalless
The first half was described as having a "distinctly pre-season feel," with neither side able to break the deadlock. Tottenham dominated possession, holding nearly 70% of the ball, but struggled to create clear-cut chances. Reading goalkeeper Joel Pereira made important saves to deny Pape Matar Sarr and Mikey Moore. Cristian Romero also missed an opportunity, heading wide.
Half-Time Changes Spark Tottenham into Life
At half-time, Thomas Frank made a complete change to his starting eleven, introducing a fresh team including Heung-min Son, Micky van de Ven, Mohammed Kudus, and Luka Vuskovic. This tactical switch proved instrumental in Tottenham's second-half dominance.
Vuskovic Steals the Show with Goal and Assist
Luka Vuskovic, the young centre-back who officially joined Spurs in July after a prior agreement in 2023, made an immediate impact. He scored one goal and assisted another on his debut for the club. Will Lankshear opened the scoring in the 49th minute, heading home from close range after Vuskovic flicked on a corner from Mohammed Kudus. Just four minutes later, Vuskovic doubled Tottenham's lead, clinically finishing after being set up by Kudus. His performance was widely praised.
Kudus Impresses on Debut with Two Assists
Mohammed Kudus, Tottenham's new £55 million signing from West Ham, also shone in his first appearance for the club, providing two assists. His link-up play with Vuskovic was particularly effective.
Managerial Debut: Frank's Tactical Adjustments
Thomas Frank's first match in charge offered insights into his tactical approach. The team displayed a focus on defensive compactness, a more structured press, and the development of link-ups between full-backs and wingers. This represents a shift from Ange Postecoglou's system, which involved inverted full-backs. Frank also emphasized the importance of set-pieces, with both goals originating from corner kicks.
"Europa League Hero" – Context and Interpretation
The original headline mentioned a "Europa League hero" receiving a 6/10 rating at half-time. While Tottenham did win the Europa League in 2025, and Brennan Johnson was the final's match-winner, the reference to a 6/10 rating suggests an assessment of a player from the first-half XI of this friendly who played a significant role in their Europa League triumph. However, Luka Vuskovic's outstanding second-half performance makes him the standout hero of this particular match.
Other Player Performances
Pedro Porro delivered a strong performance in the first half, making his presence known across the pitch. Dominic Solanke also featured in the match.
Post-Match Reactions and Statements
Luka Vuskovic shared his excitement, stating, "I'm very happy for those stats and I'm happy that we won the game with a clean sheet. We just need to continue to build... Kudus gave me a top assist and I just put it in the net! To have Vicario behind me, Van de Ven beside me was a really amazing experience. Now everything is perfect. The club is behind me, the players, the staff, the coach. Everyone is helping me a lot and I'm really happy.”
Thomas Frank praised Mohammed Kudus' debut, describing it as "exciting" and noting that he "ticked lots of boxes."
Reading Manager Noel Hunt acknowledged his squad's need for reinforcements in the transfer window following the defeat.
Match Statistics Highlight Tactical Shift
Tottenham's overall possession was 65%, surpassing their average of 54.8% under Postecoglou last season, indicating a potential change in playing style under Thomas Frank.
Brief Crowd Disturbance Reported
A minor disturbance was reported in one stand where Spurs and Reading fans were located near each other.
