Llorente, Moura braces see Tottenham cruise past Roma in ICC

SAN DIEGO, Ca. -- Fernando Llorente and Lucas Moura both struck twice in the first half as Tottenham began their tour of the U.S. with a 4-1 victory over last season's Champions League semifinalists Roma.

A second-string Spurs side initially fell behind against a similarly weakened Italian side in the International Champions Cup, with Patrik Schick breaking the deadlock in just the third minute.

But Mauricio Pochettino's men fought back impressively at the SDCCU Stadium and were three goals up at half-time, making light of the absences of star men such as Harry Kane and Dele Alli.

Tottenham's manager was missing the nine senior players who reached the World Cup semi-finals as well as the injured Harry Winks, Josh Onomah and Juan Foyth, while Victor Wanyama was omitted from Wednesday's squad.

It left Pochettino particularly short of centre-backs and central midfielders. Left-back Ben Davies was deployed alongside 20-year-old U.S. international Cameron Carter-Vickers at the heart of the rearguard, while 21-year-old Luke Amos partnered Moussa Sissoko in the middle of the pitch.

Spurs were quickly undone at the back and Schick gathered a low pass inside the box, swivelled away from Davies and found the bottom corner.

Tottenham responded rapidly though and Amos -- who had a loan spell in League Two last season -- played a key role in the equaliser.

He helped to win the ball back deep inside Roma's half before then getting through on goal. Although his shot was blocked, the ball looped up in the air and Llorente leapt to head home.

Moments later Christian Eriksen hit the post with a low curling effort, and in the 12th minute Spurs went ahead.

Lucas arrived at the back post to meet Erik Lamela's cross and, while he was denied by Antonio Mirante, Llorente followed up again.

Lucas was more clinical when Tottenham extended their advantage in the 28th minute, heading in from Serge Aurier's inviting cross -- and he too struck for a second time before the break.

Mirante palmed Sissoko's low cross out to the Brazilian, who took a touch on the edge of the box and fired home.

The second half was predictably interrupted by a host of changes, and Roma had the better of the chances in the final half-hour.

Substitute Edin Dzeko went close on four occasions, drawing a particularly fine save from Paulo Gazzaniga. But the game had long since been won.