Kaizer Chiefs 1-0 Tottenham: Luka Modric absent as Spurs stumble to defeat in South Africa

Tottenham opened their pre-season campaign with a 1-0 defeat to Kaizer Chiefs in Polokwane.

Want-away midfielder Luka Modric was ruled out prior to the game due to an ankle injury, whilst boss Harry Redknapp was also a notable absentee, with the 64-year-old set to fly out to join the squad on Sunday.

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Robbie Keane returned to the starting line up, yet despite scoring the last time these two sides met in 2007, the Irishmen was consistently unable to link up with strike partner Jermain Defoe.

Indeed opening goalscorer of last year’s World Cup finals Siphiwe Tshabalala went closest to breaking the deadlock after 15 minutes for Kaizer Chiefs, with his 30-yard effort just edging past Carlo Cudicini’s left hand post.

Spurs continued to look defensively sluggish as the half progressed, with striker Majoro twice failing to hit the target from six yards, first following some suspect goalkeeping from Cudicini and secondly heading over the bar after Alan Hutton cheaply lost possession.

The away side’s first half chances were limited to efforts from distance, and the lack of attacking impetus may have hastened the planned introductions of Peter Crouch, Aaron Lennon and Roman Pavulychenko, who all entered the fray at half time.

Despite Majoro again finding space in the box early after the restart - the striker this time forcing a save from Cudicini - the second half introduction of Gareth Bale and Rafael van der Vaart soon saw Spurs assert themselves more convincingly and dominate possession.

Birthday boy Bale looked lively on the left hand side, and the 22-year-old carved out the best chance of the game just after the hour mark for Crouch, only for his headed effort to be saved well.

The pair again linked up well with 10 minutes to go, this time Crouch the provider with his headed flick-on latched onto by Bale, who cut inside and opted to shoot from an acute angle instead of crossing, only to see his effort sail over the bar.

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