CSKA Moscow vs. Tottenham Hotspur: 2016 Champions League Match Score, Reaction

Son Heung-min scored to give Tottenham Hotspur a 1-0 win over CSKA Moscow at the Arena CSKA in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday. It means Spurs are off the mark in Group E, having recovered from the disappointing defeat to AS Monaco on Matchday 1. 

Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino reshuffled the pack defensively, starting Kieran Trippier and Ben Davies at full-back. Meanwhile, Son got a start up front in the absence of the injured Harry Kane.

BT Sport Football relayed the full Tottenham starting XI:

Kane's absence meant Spurs were relying on Vincent Janssen for inspiration up front. However, the former AZ Alkmaar man struggled to impose himself during a dour first half when CSKA's experience showed.

The Russian outfit are an old hand in Europe, and coach Leonid Slutsky proved his nous by setting up a team that stymied Spurs at every turn. One of the hallmarks of the hosts' approach was to hunt in packs, constantly getting numbers around the man in possession.

This snap from Squawka News best summed up the strategy:

CSKA's swarming pressing destroyed the rhythm of Spurs' passing. Runners off the ball also found themselves routinely blocked off as the Moscow team held its shape superbly.

Congestion in the middle left Janssen starved of service, and OptaJohan illustrated his lack of involvement:

It was no surprise to see the first half end goalless. The bland stalemate continued Tottenham's recent struggles going forward in this competition, according to OptaJoe:

There wasn't much improvement from Spurs immediately after the break. The best chance came when Erik Lamela screwed a shot narrowly wide of Igor Akinfeev's goal, but only after a wicked deflection. Still, the expected torrent of pressure from Tottenham wouldn't arrive.

Quality may have been lacking from Spurs' performance, but determination wasn't. Pochettino's players stuck to their task and were soon rewarded when Lamela picked out Son with a smart pass from the No. 10 position.

The South Korean finished deftly to give the north London club a vital lead. Son is now in prolific form, as WhoScored.com detailed:

Son nearly doubled the advantage moments later after a superb drag and turn in the box, only to be denied by a desperate block. Spurs began to look in increasing control after Son's finish, but CSKA still had their chances.

Towering centre-forward Lacina Traore was a whisker away from prodding the ball into an empty net after a whipped cross flashed across the box. However, it was as close as the home side came to snatching a point.

Afterwards, Pochettino was understandably effusive in his praise for Son, a forward in peak form at the moment. First, the Tottenham boss saluted the attacker's instinctive finish, per Squawka News:

Next, the Spurs manager paid homage to Son's terrific current run, per the club's official site:

But Son wasn't the only one due praise from the former Argentina international. Pochettino took time to applaud Tottenham's travelling support:

Those fans will have been delighted to see Spurs hold on for all three points and dispel some of the doubts about their ability to cope in Europe's premier club competition.

It wasn't a dominant display, but Tottenham were disciplined and resilient and did enough to win—a good habit to have.