Spain striker Roberto Soldado scored a second-half penalty on his Tottenham debut to secure a 1-0 victory over fellow London side Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Tottenham was awarded the penalty in the 50th minute after Palace defender Dean Moxey handballed a cross from Aaron Lennon as he slid in to block the ball going into the penalty area.

Ian Holloway's side was playing its first Premier League game since 2005 and nearly equalized in the 89th when Kagisho Dikgachoi forced a good block from Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris from close range. A minute earlier, substitute Jermain Defoe wasted a chance to secure the win for Tottenham, shooting wide from inside the penalty area.

Tottenham's Gareth Bale, a target for Real Madrid, was not in the squad as he was injured.