Spurs 1-0 CSKA Moscow: (match report)

Yesterday evening Spurs put in a diligent performance as they defeated CSKA Moscow 1-0 to get their first win of this seasons UEFA Champions league campaign. It was a tough game for Mauricio Pochettino’s side but the Lillywhites controlled the flow of the game from the offing and their persistency paid off late in the second half as Son continued his excellent goal scoring run to bring home three valuable points to North London. We had the majority of possession in the opening half an hour however, Spurs found it hard to get past CSKA’s solid defence. Ten minutes before the interval Dele Alli went desperately close to opening the scoring after the 20 year old fired an effort from just outside the box, but the midfielders excellent effort smashed off the crossbar. We continued to have the upper hand in the game after the interval and Pochettino’s side went close at the beginning of the second half shortly after Ben Davies blocked a shot from Tosic on the edge of the box. Son came close to giving Spurs the lead at the other end after he fired a good shot from the edge of the box which flew narrowly wide of the left post. In the minutes that followed we came closer and closer to taking the lead as the lads searched for that much needed winner.

 

On 68 minutes Erik Lamela came close to breaking the deadlock after the Argentina international created space inside the box before hitting an effort at goal that was deflected off Wernbloom before going narrowly wide. However just a couple of minutes later Lamela turned the provider after the winger threaded through a perfectly weighted through ball into the path of Son who from 12 yards out made no mistake as he slotted the ball past Akinfeev and into the back of the net. CSKA came close to equalising five minutes from time through Natcho however, it wasn’t to matter as Spurs recorded a well deserved victory in the Russian capital as they moved up to second in group E. COYS

Yet again Son was our best player, the South Korean international who has been in excellent form scoring five goals in five games this season, showed great perseverance and his tireless hard work ensured us an important victory. Our centre back pairing of Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen were superb at the back, both read the game incredibly well and they dealt excellently with the presence of 6foot 8 inches CSKA Moscow striker Lacina Traore. Dele Alli adapted well to the centre of midfield, with the 20 year old being one of our most creative players on the night, another player who was incredibly influential in the game Was Erik Lamela. Lamela worked incredibly hard, constantly looking to create chances and his creativity paid off after he set up Son’s winning goal with a lovely through ball.

CSKA Moscow (4-2-3-1): Akinfeev (C); Fernandes, V Berezutski (A Berezutski 46), Ignashevich, Schennikov; Golovin, Wernbloom; Tosic (Natcho 72), Eremenko, Milanov; Traore. Substitutes (not used): Chepchugov (gk), Nababkin, Strandberg, Gordyuskenko.
Spurs (4-2-3-1): Lloris (C); Trippier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies; Wanyama, Alli (Winks 82) ; Lamela, Eriksen, Son; Janssen (Nkoudou 67). Substitutes (not used): Vorm, Walker, Wimmer, Carter-Vickers, Onomah.

Goals: Spurs – Son 71.

My man of the match: Son Heung-Min.

 

Spurs 2-1 Middlesbrough: (match report)

Yesteday afternoon Spurs extended their unbeaten run in the premier league to six matches after Mauricio Pochettino’s side defeated Middlesbrough 2-1 at the Riverside stadium. Spurs looked sharp from the offing as they searched for an early goal and after an excellent start the Lillywhites broke the deadlock after just seven minutes courtesy of Son. The goal came about after Janssen received the ball from the resulting corner as the Dutchman held the ball before passing to Son, who danced his way through the Middlesbrough defence before firing the ball into the back of the net from ten yards. Less than 15 minutes later Son continued his rich vein of form after he netted Spurs’s second of the game after the South Korea international scored an excellent solo goal. Son showed great persistence as he worked hard to get the back the ball after he was tackled, and the winger won it back as he made his way back to a more central position in the box before curling a wonderful effort which nestled in to the top right hand corner of the net. We continued to dominate the game and ten minutes before the interval Spurs almost put the game to bed, after Son crossed the ball to Eriksen the Denmark international seemed destined to score as he let fly, but his effort was blocked by George Friend. The rebound came to Sissoko who on the right side of the box fired an effort at goal however, Victor Valdes thwarted the Frenchman’s effort with a fine save.

On the stroke of half time Dele Alli went desperately close to getting Spurs’s third of the game after the 20 year old was found by Eriksen inside the box but an off balance Alli blazed his effort over the crossbar. We continued to control the game in the second half and shortly after the hour mark Dele Alli again went close to netting Spurs’s third of the afternoon. Alli discovered space outside the area before firing an effort at goal however, Ali’s powerful effort flew narrowly over the cross bar. However, just a few minutes later the Teeside club pulled a goal back after defender Ben Gibson headed home from Stewart Downing’s whipped free kick. Eleven minutes later Middlesbrough came close to getting an equaliser through substitute Jordan Rhodes after the Scotland international got on the end of Stewart Downing’s cross as he forced a comfortable save out of Lloris. The final score was a deserved 2-1 victory for Spurs, the Lillywhites had an excellent game in North Yorkshire as they dominated the match, playing excellent free flowing football in the process. COYS

 

My man of the match: Son, who played superbly yet again as he scored a brace putting his tally to four league goals in the premier league this season.

Match facts:
– Son had 4 shots against Middlesbrough scoring two goals, Son also had a 90% passing accuracy.
– Spurs had 19 attempts on goal yesterday afternoon.
– Spurs had 59% of ball possession

Middlesbrough (4-2-3-1): Valdes; Barragan, Chambers, Gibson, Friend (c); De Roon, Clayton (Forshaw 82); Stuani, Ramirez (Traore 59), Downing; Negredo (Rhodes 59). Substitutes (not used): Guzan, Ayala, Fischer, Nsue.
Spurs (4-2-3-1): Lloris (c); Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies; Wanyama, Alli; Sissoko (Lamela 69), Eriksen (Nkoudou 90), Son; Janssen (Winks 86). Substitutes (not used): Vorm, Trippier, Carter-Vickers, Wimmer.
Goals: Middlesbrough – Gibson 66; Spurs – Son 7, 23.
Yellow cards: Spurs – Walker 63; Middlesbrough – Traore 87, Friend 90+6.

Spurs 5-0 Gillingham: (match report)

 

It was a glorious night at the lane on Tuesday as Mauricio Pochettino’s youthful Spurs side defeated Gillingham 5-0 in the third round of the league cup to progress to the fourth round where the Lillywhites will meet Liverpool at Anfield. It was a truly dominant performance from Spurs yesterday as they completely outclassed the league one side in every area on the field of play. We started the game well in the opening minutes and went close to taking the leading through Christian Eriksen in the 16th minute, Spurs’s captain powered a long range effort at goal which the Gills keeper Jonathan Bond thwarted with an excellent save, before being brought off through injury shortly afterwards. The lads continued to push for the opener and the team were rewarded on the half hour mark as Christian Eriksen opened the scoring with a 30 yard screamer which moved in the air as it flew past Nelson and into the back of the net. Nine minutes later Vincent Janssen went desperately close to getting his first goal for Spurs after rounding Nelson inside the area Janssen tried to convert from a tight angle. However, the strikers shot was cleared on the line by Deji Oshilaja.

The lads started the second half in style as Christian Eriksen got his second of the game three minutes after the restart to double Spurs’s lead. The goal came about following a surging run from Lamela in the midfield before finding Eriksen on the edge of the box with a perfectly weighted pass as he found his way through two Gillingham defenders before slotting the ball through the legs of Nelson and into the back of the net. Less than three minutes later Spurs got a third courtesy of Vincent Janssen’s first goal for the Lillywhites after he despatched a well taken penalty, following Kieran Trippier being brought down in the area after the right back tried to turn past Oshilaja. Spurs put the game well and truly out of sight 15 minutes later as academy graduate Josh Onomah got his first senior goal for Spurs. Onomah received a fantastic pass from Lamela on the edge of the area before tucking the ball into the bottom left hand corner of the net, the passion was clear to see in Onomah’s celebration. Erik Lamela deserved a goal for his excellent contribution to the game and the Argentine got our fifth in the 68th minute. After some excellent work from Janssen where the Dutchman outmuscled his opponent, Janssen laid the ball off to Lamela on the edge of the area and the Argentina international slotted home with a fine finish.

Highly rated academy prospect Marcus Edwards almost scored in stoppage time following his introduction, Edwards went on a fantastic mazing run as he weaved past the Gillingham defence before powering an effort from 20 yards out that was tipped over the crossbar by Nelson. The final score Spurs 5-0 Gillingham, it was an excellent performance from Spurs as the young side impressed throughout getting an impressive victory over the Gills. Erik Lamela was my man of the match, the winger got three assists and a goal as he worked tirelessly throughout, fuelling our attack from the minute go. In addition Eriksen had a great game as he netted a brace, whilst 20 year old midfielder Harry Winks was flawless in the centre of the park. Winks was tidy, efficient and creative and demonstrated to Pochettino that he is more than ready to play senior football for Spurs.

Spurs (4-2-3-1): Vorm; Trippier, Wimmer, Carter-Vickers, Davies (Walkes 80); Winks, Carroll; Lamela, Onomah, Eriksen (c, Nkoudou 59); Janssen (Edwards 75). Substitutes (not used): Whiteman, Vertonghen, Wanyama, Son.
Gillingham (4-5-1): Bond (Nelson 16); Jackson, Ehmer, Oshilaja, Konchesky; Emmanuel-Thomas (Wagstaff 60), Wright (c), Byrne, Dack (Knott 80), Osadebe; McDonald. Substitutes (not used): Donnelly, Pask, Oldaker, List.
Goals: Spurs – Eriksen 31, 48, Janssen 51 (pen), Onomah 66, Lamela 68.

Spurs 1-0 Sunderland: (match report)

Spurs moved up to third in the table after a dominant 1-0 victory over Sunderland at the lane yesterday. It was a highly impressive performance from Mauricio Pochettino’s side as they recorded a hard fought victory against the black cats. Spurs started the game well and were looking sharp against a Sunderland side desperate for a point after a poor start to the season. After some good half chances early on Spurs went close on 17 minutes through Harry Kane after the striker received a cross inside the area from Son, Kane hit the ball first time from close range but Jordan Pickford pulled off a good reaction save to deny Kane. We continued to cause the Sunderland defence bother in the following minutes and constantly tested goalkeeper Jordan Pickford with numerous goal attempts. However, the highly impressive Son went desperately close to breaking the deadlock six minutes before half time, after the winger cut in from the left before firing a powerful low effort which hit the outside of the left post. Despite our control of the game throughout the first half David Moyes’s side almost stunned Spurs on the stroke of half time after having the best chance of the half, following a pass from Januzaj on the right wing former Spurs player Steven Piennar hit an effort on the edge of the six yard box which seemed destined to nestle in the bottom left hand corner of the net. However, the alert Kyle Walker got across to make an exceptional goal line clearance to keep the score level at the interval.

Our stand out player of the first half, Son continued his excellent display into the second half as the South Korean internationals energy and high work rate troubled the Sunderland defence. Son went close to opening the lead shortly before the hour mark after Moussa Dembele passed to him on the left side of the penalty area, Son tried a powerful effort which hit the side netting. After showing great perseverance throughout the game Harry Kane’s hard work finally paid off in the 59th minute as he broke the deadlock to give Spurs a 1-0 lead. The goal came about after Kyle Walker sent in a promising cross from the right in which Alli headed down in to the direction of Kane and despite contact by Djilobodji the defender couldn’t control the ball as it came to Kane who after controlling the ball calmly despatched the ball in to the bottom right hand corner of the net. After Kane opened the scoring for Spurs it was all one way traffic for the Lillywhites as for the rest of the game they continued to create chance after chance, with the best chance coming to substitute Erik Lamela in the 87th minute. The Argentine went on a surging run down the right wing as he was free to test Pickford from just outside the area he curled an effort in the direction of the bottom left hand corner. However, Pickford made a magnificent diving save to deny Lamela, a couple of minutes later Sunderland were reduced to ten men following the dismissal of Adnan Januzaj following a second bookable offence, Spurs comfortably won the game 1-0 to move up to third in the premier league as they bounced back from Wednesdays loss against Monaco.

The win was somewhat overshadowed by an injury picked up by Harry Kane in the second half after the striker went over on his ankle after lunging for the ball, it was a worrying sight but hopefully it won’t be as serious as originally feared. Son was undoubtedly our man of the match for a second league game in a row, Son was exceptional throughout as he worked tirelessly down the right wing, his energy and eagerness to get into space was fantastic and I really do believe that Son will flourish for Spurs this season. Goalscorer Harry Kane’s perseverance throughout was imperative as the England international netted a well worked winner, linking up well with Dele Alli for the goal. After his excellent first half goal line clearance Kyle Walker had yet another excellent game at right back and didn’t let anyone past him. It was a great win for Spurs and the lads go again this Wednesday in the EFL cup against Gillingham at the lane.

Match facts:
– Son had 90% passing accuracy and had seven shots on goal.
– Spurs recorded an exceptional 31 attempts on goal against Sunderland. yesterday.
– Spurs had 74% of Possession in yesterday’s match.

Spurs (4-2-3-1): Lloris (c); Walker, Alderweireld, Dier (Davies 77), Vertonghen; Dembele (Lamela 74), Wanyama; Sissoko, Alli, Son; Kane (Janssen 87). Substitutes (not used): Vorm, Trippier, Winks, Eriksen.
Sunderland (4-3-3): Pickford; Denayer (McNair 90+2), Djilobodji, Kone, Manquillo; Cattermole (c), Kirchhoff (Khazri 79), Ndong; Pienaar (Watmore 63), Defoe, Januzaj. Substitutes (not used): Mika, Love, O’Shea, Gooch.

Goal: Spurs – Kane 59.