Spurs under 19’s 0-4 FC Midtjylland: (match report)

Our under 19’s took on technically gifted Danish side FC Midtjylland in the semifinals of this years Terborg tournament this morning. Unfortunately for Wayne Burnett’s side they were unable to match their Danish counterparts who were far superior to Spurs in every aspect of the game, Spurs looked off the pace and tired and they were unable to cope with the energy that the ` Ulvene ‘ brought to the game. After falling behind early on in the game Spurs never seemed to recover and they ended the first half two goals down. The second half was very much the same story and Tottenham just didn’t have the stamina to deal with the Danish club and in the end they lost 4-0. Wayne Burnett’s side lined up in their usual 4-2-3-1 formation for Sunday’s semifinal. Jonathan De Bie started in goal while a back four of Jubril Okedina, Brooklyn Lyons-Foster, Jonathan Dinzeyi and Dennis Cirkin lined up in front of him. Harvey White and Jamie Bowden anchored the midfield and Dilan Markanday and Rayan Clarke operated out on the flanks either side of CAM Phoenix Patterson. Jack Roles led the line for Spurs on what was a sweltering hot summers day. The game got off to the worst possible start for Spurs after Midtjylland took the lead less than five minutes into the game through their number 13, after he’d latched onto number tens pass he sprinted forward past Jonathan Dinzeyi down the right hand side of the Spurs penalty area before firing the ball into the bottom left hand corner of De Bie’s goal, 0-1. Harvey White responded by testing the Midtjylland goalkeeper from long range after the ball had been laid off to him by Jack Roles. Spurs came again this time through Rayan Clarke who after receiving Jamie Bowden’s pass cut inside from the left flank before shooting on goal however, his shot was blocked by Midtjylland’s number five. Midtjylland attacked us straight down the other end of the pitch and the move ended in number ten firing a low effort wide of De Bie’s goal from the edge of the penalty area. Dilan Markanday then saw his shot hit off his own player Phoenix Patterson at the other end of the pitch. Jonathan De Bie then had to deal with a curling effort from number 13 as Midtjylland continued to test our defence. 13 fired over De Bie’s crossbar from range a couple of minutes later before the Danes managed to work another intricate attacking move. After number ten passed the ball to 13 down the right flank 13 whipped a low cross into number nine in the middle of the Spurs box and the Midtjylland forwards resulting low effort was saved excellently by the feet of Jonathan De Bie.

Brooklyn Lyons-Foster was on hand to clear number 24’s cross before number two forced a comfortable save out of De Bie with a header from a corner kick. Midtjylland then made it 2-0 after the racing number 13 managed to latch onto number tens long defence splitting pass before poking the ball over the outrushing Jonathan De Bie on the edge of the penalty area and into the back of the goal, 0-2. Midtjylland had a penalty shout waived away shortly afterwards after Rayan Clarke appeared to handle the ball inside the Spurs box before number two nodded over number 11’s corner. After suffering what appeared to be a concussion Jonathan Dinzeyi left the field to be replaced by Luis Binks at LCB. Soon after coming on Binks was forced straight into the action after number ten played a lofted pass through to 13 who got away from the Spurs defender down the right hand side of the pitch and into the box before eventually firing the ball over De Bie’s crossbar in what was the final bit of action from the first half. Spurs made a substitute at halftime as they brought on striker Kion Etete for Harvey White. Soon after the restart Bowden laid a nice pass off to Roles on the edge of the Midtjylland box and he forced a good save out of their goalkeeper with a low drive at goal before number six curled over at the other end of the pitch. Midtjylland made it 3-0 after 13 picked the ball up some 25 yards out from goal before firing an unstoppable effort into the top left hand corner of De Bie’s goal, 0-3. Luis Binks then made a brilliant crunching challenge on number 11 before Rayan Clarke came in from the left flank and tested the Midtjylland goalkeeper with a thumping effort on goal, at the other end. Things got even worse for Spurs after number 15 made it 4-0 to Midtjylland after he fired home an unstoppable effort from the edge of the Spurs penalty area which despite getting a hand on, De Bie couldn’t keep out, 0-4. Spurs tried to respond and after Okedina gave the ball to Roles down the right flank he managed to pick out Bowden in the middle of the Spurs box but the midfielder completely missed the ball and the goalkeeper managed to gobble it up.  A long kick up field from the Midtjylland goalkeeper managed to bounce over everyone at the back and into the path of 14 who forced a good save out of De Bie with a side footed effort on goal.

Jonathan De Bie managed to claim number tens late cross before the referee blew his whistle for full time.

My man of the match: Brooklyn Lyons-Foster. The LCB (18) had another good game for Spurs despite the score line suggesting otherwise. The centre half defended well against Midtjylland who he kept impeccable positioning against and made some really important defensive interventions. He could of done nothing to prevent any of Midtjylland’s goals today. Furthermore, the Londoner demonstrated good leadership skills throughout the game and he could often be seen giving out instructions to right back Jubril Okedina.