Tottenham finally had something to celebrate at home as their new campaign gathered momentum with a convincing Carabao Cup victory over Charlton. After a miserable 3-0 defeat at Brentford on Saturday, Spurs responded with a performance that offered both relief and encouragement.

Home victories against English opposition had been rare for Tottenham last season. They managed only four, including three in the Premier League, with the final one coming against Everton on the last day of the campaign. That result proved crucial in keeping them clear of relegation. A defeat that afternoon would have sent Spurs into this meeting with Charlton as a Championship side.

This time, however, Tottenham produced exactly the response they needed. With no European competition on their schedule, the domestic cups carry greater importance, and they made a positive start to that pursuit.

Moore Breaks the Deadlock

For much of the opening period, Mikey Moore appeared destined to become the standout performer.

The 19-year-old academy graduate opened the scoring with a superb strike from outside the box. There was little that Charlton goalkeeper Tiernan Brooks could do as Moore’s left-footed effort flew through his hands.

Tottenham had initially struggled to create anything meaningful. Charlton threatened first, with Greg Docherty forcing Antonin Kinsky into an important save after driving through a crowded penalty area. Nathan Asiimwe also came close with a header that drifted just wide.

Spurs gradually increased the intensity after Kinsky’s intervention, with Mateus Fernandes particularly effective in midfield. Moore began finding more space and eventually produced the moment that changed the contest.

Moving infield from the right, Moore benefited when Millenic Alli slipped. The teenager immediately took advantage, striking the ball cleanly with his left foot and sending it beyond Brooks.

It was only his second senior goal for Tottenham. His previous effort had come against Elfsborg in the Europa League in January 2025, a match after which James Maddison famously likened his young teammate to Neymar.

Moore’s development has not progressed quite as rapidly as some expected, but his age remains firmly on his side. He continued to show flashes of his ability after the interval, producing quick runs and eye-catching touches that delighted the home supporters.

His future remains a subject of interest, with FC Köln still looking at the possibility of taking him on loan before the transfer window closes. De Zerbi has made clear that consistent playing time will be important for Moore’s development.

Solanke Adds Another

Charlton’s evening became even more difficult when uncertainty inside their own penalty area handed Tottenham a second goal.

Lucas Bergvall saw an attempt blocked, while Timothy Ouma appeared unable to react decisively to the loose ball. Solanke was alert to the opportunity and calmly guided his finish into the bottom corner.

The forward’s goal reflected the sharper edge Spurs had developed after a slow start. Tottenham dominated possession throughout, but their superiority became more obvious once they increased the tempo.

Spurs eventually finished with 70% of the ball compared with Charlton’s 30%. They registered 20 attempts in total, including 11 on target, while Charlton managed six efforts, with four testing Kinsky.

Tottenham also won the corner count 11-6 and committed fewer fouls, five compared with Charlton’s 10.

Savio Announces Himself

The biggest source of excitement, though, came from Savio.

De Zerbi introduced his £75m summer arrival from Manchester City in the 71st minute, giving the Brazilian his first appearance for Tottenham. The winger needed only 11 minutes to make his presence felt.

Starting on the right, Savio carried the ball inside with remarkable control. Despite defenders closing around him, he maintained possession before finishing with a low shot into the near corner.

It was precisely the kind of contribution De Zerbi has been demanding. The Tottenham manager wants Savio to provide greater end product, particularly in front of goal, and challenged him to reach between 10 and 12 goals before the campaign concludes.

His first outing suggested he may be capable of meeting that target.

Savio was involved again shortly afterwards. This time he collected the ball on the right and moved closer to the Charlton goal before leaving one defender on the ground and evading another. His composure was the most impressive part of the sequence.

The eventual shot struck Ben Davies and ended up in the net. Davies was officially credited with the goal and did little to hide his amusement at the fortunate finish.

For Savio, however, the assist and the overall performance were enough to make a striking first impression.

De Zerbi Welcomes Back Key Players

The evening also provided Tottenham with encouraging signs regarding the fitness of several important players.

Destiny Udogie, Rodrigo Bentancur, Mateus Fernandes and Solanke all started after being fit only enough for places on the bench against Brentford. Pedro Porro and Micky van de Ven, meanwhile, had not featured during pre-season and were unavailable at Brentford, but both came on during the second half.

Kevin Danso also entered the match and immediately made an impact.

His first touch was a header from Fernandes’ free-kick that flew beyond Brooks. The defender paid a price for the goal, however, requiring treatment after being caught during an aerial challenge with Charlton substitute Danny McNamara.

Savio had already been stripped and prepared to enter when Danso went down, meaning the Brazilian had to wait a little longer before making his debut.

Once he finally stepped onto the pitch, he wasted no time demonstrating why Tottenham invested heavily in him.

There were some notable absences from the squad, with Marcos Senesi and Sandro Tonali left out. Both are expected to be ready for Saturday’s meeting with Newcastle.

Charlton Make Changes but Fight Back

Charlton manager Nathan Jones had made 10 changes to the side that defeated West Ham on Saturday, a decision that left his team facing a difficult challenge against a Tottenham side determined to respond to their weekend disappointment.

Jones did not hold back when assessing the performance, describing the evening as “absolutely disastrous” and admitting it was a match his team could have done without.

Yet Charlton still managed to provide a late consolation.

Another substitute, Lloyd Jones, rose to meet a corner and headed the ball into the Tottenham net, giving the visitors something to take away from a night that had otherwise been dominated by Spurs.

Liverpool Await in the Next Round

Tottenham’s reward for progressing is a difficult trip to Anfield, where they will face Liverpool in the next round.

Rather than being concerned by the draw, De Zerbi welcomed the challenge. For a Tottenham side hoping to go deep into the competition, he believes difficult fixtures cannot be avoided.

“It’s a great game,” De Zerbi said. “If we want to win the competition, we have to win these games.”

That attitude captured the mood around Tottenham after a night that had started as an opportunity to recover from a poor weekend and ended with considerably more optimism.

The result was important, but Savio’s debut may ultimately prove to be the most significant development. Tottenham had already secured a comfortable victory through Moore, Solanke and Danso, yet the Brazilian’s short cameo provided a glimpse of another attacking dimension.

After such a disappointing opening to the season, Spurs now have something positive to build on.