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.