Tottenham Hotspur have secured their first three points of the season with a 3-1 win over Reading at the Madejski Stadium.
It was Spurs who started the better and they might have taken the lead after four minutes when Gylfi Sigurdsson ghosted into the box, but Alex McCarthy palmed his header to safety.
Gareth Bale came close for Spurs moments later when he beat Ian Harte to the ball, but McCarthy was quick off his line to crowd the winger.
Spurs continued to create the better chances as the half developed and Jermain Defoe twice came close with efforts after 17 minutes.
Defoe pounced for the first goal moments later when he struck a powerful effort into the corner after smart work from Aaron Lennon.
The England striker so nearly added a second after 24 minutes, but he fired it narrowly wide of the post.
Spurs had a fine chance to make it two after 30 minutes, but Sigurdsson could not find a finish from close range after Defoe had taken the ball from McCarthy.
The away side continued to dominate the latter stages of the half, but just the singular goal seperated the sides at the break.
Spurs continued to push forward in the second period, and they might have added a second when Moussa Dembele fed Defoe after 54 minutes, but the England striker missed the target.
The chances continued to fall for Defoe, but he fired an effort over the crossbar after smart work from Gareth Bale on the 65-minute mark. Spurs did have their second after 71 minutes, however, when Bale turned a Kyle Walker cross into the back of the net.
Spurs were not finished, however, and they added a third after 75 minutes with a fine strike from Defoe. It might have been more in the latter stages as the away side continued to probe, but Reading cut the score to 3-1 with a late strike from Hal Robson-Kanu.
Matt Law
