Some thoughts on Spurs’ 3-2 defeat to Roma:
We were involved in another thrilling game in the USA overnight, this time involving Italian side Roma. The fiercely contested friendly which took place in Harrison New Jersey, somehow ended 3-2 to the Serie A side despite the fact that spurs were in all honesty the better side. Pochettino’s side saw a couple of youth players involved, including Anthony Georgiou who shone down the left wing. We fell behind inside 13 minutes due to a penalty which should never have been awarded to I Lupi, after Radja Nainggolan’s cross struck the arm of Carter-Vickers who attempted to block the Belgian’s pass. After some pondering and some words with the fourth official, the referee harshly awarded a penalty to the astonishment of the spurs players. Diego Perotti cooly despatched his effort from the spot to put Roma one up, we lacked that creative spark for the remainder of the half, unable to draw level.
The second half saw a revitalised Spurs side take hold of the game, the creativity of Winks from the midfield, and the pace of Georgiou and Nkoudou on the flanks saw us create a flurry of chances. However, Spurs fell two behind on 70 minutes, when Turkish youngster Cengiz Ünder (who had been linked with Spurs this summer) put the Italian side 2-0 up. Roma’s second came as a result of a whipped cross by Strootman which was was cleared by Wimmer only in to the path of Ünder, who drilled home from inside the box. A fine solo effort from Georgiou tested Skorupski soon afterwards, then we finally got a way back into the game, when Janssen’s effort rebounded off the post, Winks eventually managing to bundel the ball home.
Pochettino’s side had gotten a breakthrough, and with Roma under pressure we managed to score a second past them in stoppage time, Nkoudou’s wonderful whipped cross was met by Janssen inside the area, as he volleyed home. The frantic nature of the game however had different plans for our side, just seconds later Roma went on a dangerous counter attack, which saw Ünder send a cross into the penalty area which young striker Tumminello put past Lloris to end a game which promised so much for Spurs.
It was a highly interesting game from the perspective of a Spurs fan, there was a lot that caught my eye. I thought we played well though the result may have suggested otherwise, I thought our performance at the very least should have warranted a draw, whilst it wasn’t vintage Spurs (which was to be expected) it wasn’t a poor performance by any means. We lacked the creativity of the PSG game, mainly down to the fact that Eriksen only played in the second half of the game. We dominated possession, had over double the amount of attempts on goal. Two vital decisions had a big impact on the game, the debatable penalty awarded to Roma, and the foul committed by Fazio on Kane in the box which wasn’t given as a penalty. The two performances that both impressed me the most last night were those of Spurs youngsters Anthony Georgiou and Harry Winks. The latter who is already an established member of our first team, showed no rustiness to his game despite it being only his second game since a long injury lay off. Winks was creative from the midfield, his deftly accurate passing creating many openings. The Englishman’s composure and decision making were also highly impressive, as to was his breaking up of play, I think Winks is going to play another massive part in Pochettino’s team this season.
20 year old winger Anthony Georgiou who made his debut last night, made a serious impression on the game, winning plaudits from many Spurs fans in the process. I have always been impressed with Georgiou’s excellent work ethic which was no different against the Serie A club. He’s always given 110% in all the youth games I’ve watched him in, and it was that hardworking attribute of his game which impressed so many last night. Playing on the left wing, Georgiou’s pace and high pressing caused the opposition a host of problems. But it was his hunger to get involved and tenacity down the left which made him make such an impression on the game, he wasn’t overwhelmed by the occasion, he rose to the challenge seizing his chance. He constantly took on Bruno Peres, constantly looking to create space. I’ve rated Georgiou for a long time now, and it was absolutely brilliant to see him make such a great impression on his first team debut, I’m hoping he’ll start against Man City on Saturday. We face fellow premier league club Manchester City on Saturday in our final game of the tour. COYS
Spurs (first half): Vorm, Trippier, Carter-Vickers, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Walker-Peters, Dier, Dembele, Onomah, Dele, Kane (c).
Spurs (second half): Lloris, Trippier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen (Wimmer 69), Davies, Dembele (Oakley-Boothe 69), Winks, Georgiou, Dele (Nkoudou 76), Eriksen, Kane (Janssen 76). Substitutes (not used): Wanyama, Whiteman, Brown, Austin, Dinzeyi, Miller.
AS Roma (first half): Alisson, Kolarov, Juan Jesus, Fazio, Peres, Nainggolan, De Rossi (c), Gerson, Defrel, Dzeko, Perotti.
AS Roma (second half): Alisson (Skorupski 63), Kolarov (Tumminello 63), Peres, Fazio (Moreno 63), Nainggolan (Castan 63), De Rossi (Pellegrini 63), Perotti (Iturbe 80), Dzeko (Gonalons 63), Manolas, Strootman, Under. Substitutes (not used): Romagnoli, Coly, Antonucci, Labont, Seck, Sadiq, Nura, El Shaarawy.
Goals: Spurs – Winks 87, Janssen 90+1; Roma – Perotti 13 (pen), Under 70, Tumminello 90+2.
Yellow cards: Roma – Kolarov 22; Spurs – Carter-Vickers 40.
Referee: Hilario Grajeda.
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