DEBUTANT ARTHUR SCORED a stunning goal and Malcom converted the decisive spot-kick as Barcelona surrendered a two-goal lead but survived to beat Tottenham 5-3 on penalties following a 2-2 draw at the International Champions Cup.
Barca were cruising at half-time thanks to Munir El Haddadi and Arthur, who put the La Liga champions in a commanding position in Pasadena, California on Saturday evening.
A €40million signing from Gremio, 21-year-old Brazilian midfielder Arthur curled a shot past Spurs goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga approaching the half-hour mark at the Rose Bowl.
Arthur’s memorable strike followed Munir El Haddadi’s opener 14 minutes earlier, however, Tottenham dominated the second half and scored two goals in as many minutes through Son Heung-min and substitute Georges-Kevin N’Koudou.
Barca, though, held their nerve in the shoot-out as debutant Malcom — who was set to join Roma before the move was controversially hijacked by the Catalans — scored the winning penalty after Anthony Georgiou’s penalty was saved.
Barca were without a number of first-team regulars, with Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Philippe Coutinho, Ousmane Dembele and Gerard Pique among the absentees for the club’s United States tour.
The Spanish giants, however, were still able to call on Nelson Semedo, Andre Gomes and Jasper Cillessen for their ICC opener, while Clement Lenglet — signed from Sevilla — made his debut alongside Arthur.
Premier League side Tottenham, who crushed Roma 4-1 last time out, included two-goal heroes Fernando Llorente and Lucas Moura as well as Christian Eriksen, Son, Serge Aurier and Moussa Sissoko.
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