The record books will show that the first goal at Tottenham Hotspur’s magnificent new stadium was scored by one of their own. Heung-min Son, very much a local hero, if not exactly a local lad.
The 59,215 that were there, however, may recall a different chain of events. Son’s goal, the one that got Tottenham off to a winning start, was the result of a significant deflection off the boot of Crystal Palace captain Luka Milivojevic.
It was a sliding tackle that went horribly wrong, Milivojevic arriving at just the moment Son let fly, meaning his shot took an unnatural trajectory that left goalkeeper Vicente Guaita stranded. Sometimes the dubious goals panel takes a look at stuff like that, live.
Son Heung-min made history by scoring the first ever goal at the brand new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Wednesday
The South Korean winger cut in before having a shot at goal with several Crystal Palace bodies in the way
Son's shot takes a small deflection off Luka Milivojevic (No 4) which deceived Vicente Guaita in the Palace net
Son watches as his shot rolls into the back of the Palace net to give Spurs the lead on Wednesday evening
Son is congratulated by his Tottenham team-mates on a big night for the club following the opening of their £1bn stadium
Christian Eriksen then made it 2-0 with 10 minutes remaining to wrap up all three points for Tottenham on opening night
The Danish playmaker picked up a loose ball inside the area before firing the ball past goalkeeper and defender
Eriksen was quickest to react as the Palace defenders watch the Spurs star score his side's second goal of the game
Eriksen celebrates in front of the mammoth south stand with Dele Alli and Son after scoring the second goal of the game
TOTTENHAM: (4-2-3-1) Lloris; Trippier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies; Sissoko, Alli (Lucas Moura 82); Son (Wanyama 90+2), Eriksen, Rose (Winks 69); Kane
SUBS NOT USED: Gazzaniga (GK); Sanchez, Walker-Peters, Foyth
GOALS: Son (56), Eriksen (80)
BOOKINGS: Alli (29)
COACH: Mauricio Pochettino
CRYSTAL PALACE: (4-3-3) Guaita; Wan Bissaka, Tomkins, Kelly, Van Aanholt; Kouyate (Townsend 80), Milivojevic, McArthur; Zaha, Batshuayi (Benteke 81), Schlupp
SUBS NOT USED: Hennessey (GK); Ward, Dann, Meyer, Ayew
GOALS: None
BOOKINGS: None
COACH: Roy Hodgson
REFEREE: Andre Marriner
MAN OF THE MATCH: TBA
VENUE: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
ATTENDANCE: 59,215
Christian Eriksen (No 23) feeds Son Heung-min (No 7) the ball who then goes on to score the first ever goal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. For more of Sportsmail's fantastic MATCH ZONE feature, please click here.
Clearly those guys have a sense of occasion. The first goal in a new £1bn arena sounds so much better being scored by a home player rather than, Milivojevic (og).
Of the second, there was no doubt. With ten minutes remaining and Crystal Palace having to come out of their shell, spaces opened up and Tottenham exploited them. Son found Harry Kane on the left who made a strong run into the box, before being taken down in a challenge by James McArthur.
The 17,500 in the Park Lane ended appealed for a penalty, barely noticing that the ball had run loose to Christian Eriksen directly in front of goal. Andre Marriner, a generous decision-maker and common sense official, had let the play run and was able to give a goal, not a foul. At last the locals could relax.
So all was well that ended well. Tottenham got home in time for Easter, and their fans had a victory to celebrate in a week when one was sorely needed. With Arsenal and Chelsea both winning, a misstep and Tottenham could have ended the night with the best stadium in the capital, and the third best team.
Instead, they returned to London’s number one spot, and the national third, even if Arsenal are merely a point adrift with a game in hand. It is not always easy to win a first game in a new stadium – Arsenal did not manage it, against Aston Villa at the Emirates – but Tottenham were comfortable here, against a Palace team long on grit but short on ambition.
Spurs left back Danny Rose, playing higher up the pitch, is played through on goal but squanders the chance by passing
