(LEAD) Son Heung-min stays hot, scores in 4th straight

All News 08:33 February 06, 2020

(ATTN: ADDS comments in paras 7-10, photo)

SEOUL, Feb. 6 (Yonhap) -- Son Heung-min has done it again.

The in-form South Korean star for Tottenham Hotspur scored in his fourth straight match, converting a late penalty to take his club over Southampton 3-2 in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Wednesday (local time) at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.

With his monthslong drought a distant memory, Son now has 14 goals in 31 matches this season in all competitions.

In this Reuters photo, Son Heung-min of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates his goal against Southampton in the fourth round of the FA Cup at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Feb. 5, 2020. (Yonhap)

Tottenham took the first-half lead on Jack Stephens' own goal, but Shane Long and Danny Ings scored for Southampton to give the visitors a 2-1 lead with less than 30 minutes to go.

Then in the 78th, Lucas Moura netted the equalizer. Nine minutes later, Son won the penalty after sprinting into the area and going down under contact from goalkeeper Angus Gunn.

Son stepped up to take the kick himself and beat Gunn to send Tottenham to the round of 16.

Son said afterward his practice with penalties paid off in the victory.

"Of course, when you step up before the penalty, you're a little bit nervous," Son told the Spurs TV. "But I was very, very confident because I've practiced it so many times. I hit it well."

Son said Southampton did "a very, very good job" taking the lead over Tottenham in the second half but added his confidence in his club never wavered.

"As soon as Lucas scored, I felt like we could score more," Son said of the game-tying goal. "I knew we could win this game. I believed in our team. We didn't play our best, but sometimes, the result is very important. I am proud of this team, and we deserve to go to the next round."

In this Reuters photo, Son Heung-min of Tottenham Hotspur scores a penalty against Southampton in the fourth round of the FA Cup at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Feb. 5, 2020. (Yonhap)

This was the rematch of the fourth round, after the two clubs ended in a 1-1 draw in late January. Through the fourth round at the FA Cup, fixtures ending in a draw after 90 minutes set up a rematch.

The Spurs will face Norwich City in the next round on March 4.

Tottenham last won the FA Cup in 1991 and haven't lifted any major trophy since the 2008 League Cup.