I'll have Moura that! Lucas on Palace victory
He might have gone in frustrated at the break but come full-time on Sunday night, Lucas Moura was in jubilant spirits as we overcame Crystal Palace 4-1 in the Premier League.
Despite having taken the lead against Palace at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as, thanks largely to the pressing work of Lucas, Gareth Bale slammed in from close range on 25 minutes, we were met with a sucker punch on the stroke of half-time as Christian Benteke headed the visitors level with their first effort of the game – a goal which our number 27 felt responsibility for.
Benteke’s equaliser meant we had it all to do once more if we were to take victory in the clash but we regrouped, refocussed and went again with renewed vigour as we came out for the second half. Within four minutes of the restart, Gareth had us back in front with a fierce header before Harry Kane extended our lead just three minutes later with a stunning strike. Our number 10 then wrapped up the scoring with 15 minutes remaining, as he nodded home Heung-Min Son’s cross.
And so, with three more points in the bag come the final whistle, Lucas was left beaming, admitting he and his team-mates are all relishing their time on the pitch.
“I’m so happy!” Lucas grinned in his post-match interview. “I thought we played really well, a good result and three very important points. It’s true we went to the changing room (at half-time) with a bad feeling, 1-1... conceding a goal in the last minute of the first half was a bad feeling.
“I don’t remember how many shots they had in the first half, maybe only one and they scored, so that’s why it was a bad feeling. I took responsibility because I lost the ball and they scored. It happens.
“But we did really well in the second half, dominated the game and found a very good way to play. I feel that the players are enjoying the games, that’s very important. It was a good day for us, a good game - let’s keep going in this way.”