Spurs’ Under 19 side welcomed Portuguese side Sporting Clube de Portugal to Hotspur Way on Wednesday afternoon, for a UEFA Youth League group-stage fixture. It was the second last such group-stage fixture for both sides in the 2022/23 edition of the competition, and unfortunately Spurs lost the game 2-1, meaning that they are now officially out of the competition, with one game still to play. Spurs lined-up with Aaron Maguire in goal, while George Abbott, Alfie Dorrington, Archie Chaplin and Jahziah Linton started in defence. Captain Nile John and Alfie Devine started in central midfield, with Yago Santiago and Romaine Mundle starting out on the flanks, either side of CAM Jamie Donley. Will Lankshear, on his first start for the club, led the line for Spurs, who got the game underway.

The game couldn’t have started any better for Spurs, who took an early lead through Will Lankshear. After Sporting Clube de Portugal captain Renato De Palma Veiga had given the ball away to Lankshear inside the Sporting Clube de Portugal box, Lankshear showed good composure, before calmly finding the bottom left corner of the goal, 1-0. Sporting Clube de Portugal responded well however, and an effort from Diogo Gomes Cabral from the right side of the Spurs box, was saved well by Aaron Maguire. A couple of minutes later Afonso Bastardo Moreira volleyed wide Diogo Gomes Cabral’s cross away from the Spurs goal. At the other end of the pitch George Abbott hit an effort over the goal, before Marco Sousa Cruz headed just wide from Afonso Bastardo Moreira’s corner-kick. Aaron Maguire gathered a ball well inside his penalty area, shortly after. George Abbott blocked an effort well inside the Spurs box, before a good Sporting Clube de Portugal move resulted in an equalising goal.

Marco Sousa Cruz found the left corner of the Spurs goal with a curling effort from inside their penalty area, after receiving a pass, 1-1. Archie Chaplin did well to divert Samuel Loureiro Carvalho Justo’s effort inside the Spurs penalty area. Nile John and George Abbott both blocked efforts well in quick succession, before Jahziah Linton was shown a yellow card after making a foul. Jamie Donley hit an effort wide of the Sporting goal from inside their penalty area, after receiving a pass from Alfie Devine. Jahziah Linton then blocked Diogo Gomes Cabral’s late effort, before the referee sounded his whistle for half-time. Sporting Clube de Portugal got the second half underway, after Spurs had made a change, as Maxwell McKnight came on to replace Jahziah Linton. Jaden Williams came on to replace Will Lankshear soon after, before Sporting took the lead for the first time in the game. Alfie Dorrington had initially done really well to block Rodrigo Duarte Ribeiro’s effort inside the Spurs box, but Marco Sousa Cruz managed to get on the ball, and his effort went in off Aaron Maguire’s left post, 1-2.

Spurs made a double change as Yago Santiago and the injured Alfie Dorrington were replaced by Damola Ajayi and Mikey Moore, respectively. Jamie Donley and Romaine Mundle were both shown yellow cards, before Spurs made their final change of the game. As Callum Olusesi came on to replace Romaine Mundle. Aaron Maguire saved Pedro Baldé Sanca’s low effort from the edge of the Spurs penalty area, in what was the next chance in the match. Renato De Palma Veiga hit a powerful effort wide of the Spurs goal, before Pedro Baldé Sanca hit an effort wide of Aaron Maguire’s goal, from the left side of the Spurs box. The alert Aaron Maguire, who was having a good game, saved Diogo Travassos’ free-kick, and then at the other end of the pitch Mikey Moore had a good effort from the right side of the Sporting penalty area saved by Diego Calai Silva. Jamie Donley, who was now playing in central defence, blocked a late Sporting effort well, before the referee sounded his whistle for full-time. Spurs’ final game of the competition takes place next Tuesday, when they face Olympique de Marseille, in Marseille.

Player reviews:

• Aaron Maguire: The Spurs goalkeeper and first year professional had a good, solid game in goal for Spurs. Maguire made a good save early on in the game, and he would later make some good decisions during the game.
• George Abbott: My man of the match, see below.
• Alfie Dorrington: The 17 year old central defender had in my opinion an impressive game. The England Under 18 international was good on the ball, but his reading of the game and impression on the game inside Spurs’ half of the pitch, was good and he read the game really well. He had to leave the pitch in the second half because of injury, but hopefully he will return soon.
• Archie Chaplin: The first year scholar worked well alongside the slightly more experienced Alfie Dorrington in central defence, and like Dorrington, he had quite a lot of defending to do during the match.
• Jahziah Linton: The left-back had quite a bit of defending to do during the first half, but after receiving a yellow card during the first half he was replaced by Maxwell McKnight at half-time.
• Nile John: The Spurs captain played as the deepest of the two central midfielders, and he tried to keep the ball moving in the central areas of the pitch, while also doing quite a bit of defending.
• Alfie Devine: Always trying to be inventive on the ball and be creative with it, Devine went on some good surging forward runs with the ball from midfield.
• Yago Santiago: The forward started the game out on the right flank, and during the first half in particular he was particularly creative with the ball, at times.
• Jamie Donley: Starting the match in the CAM position, Jamie Donley looked to link the play with Will Lankshear. Following Alfie Dorrington’s injury during the second half, Donley finished the match in central defence. He did well in central defence.
• Romaine Mundle: The winger started the game on the left flank, and he took most of Spurs’ set-pieces during the match.
• Will Lankshear: The centre-forward took his early goal well, and he worked very hard off the ball during his time on the pitch.
• Maxwell McKnight: The substitute came on for the start of the second half, and while he had quite a bit of defending to do, he did well defensively, in my opinion.
• Jaden Williams: The second half substitute came on to play out on the right flank initially, before the finishing the game in the centre-forward position.
• Damola Ajayi: The second half substitute went into midfield during his time on the pitch.
• Mikey Moore: The second half substitute impressed at times during his time on the pitch as a winger.
• Callum Olusesi: Callum Olusesi came on in the match as a late substitute.

My man of the match – George Abbott. The central midfielder once again started at right-back, and in my opinion I thought that he did really well. The 17 year old was tenacious, kept good defensive positioning, and he made some excellent blocks. Abbott’s reading of the game was as always very good, and he looked really confident against Sporting Clube de Portugal.

Spurs’ Under 18 side faced Fulham in a Premier League South fixture at their Motspur Park training ground, on Saturday. Spurs lost the game 6-0, and it was a game in which Fulham were the much better team. Spurs lined-up with captain Luca Gunter in goal, while Brandon Bryan-Waugh, Archie Chaplin, Jahziah Linton and Maeson King started in defence. Callum Olusesi and Mikey Moore started in central midfield, as Maxwell McKnight and Riley Owen started out on the flanks, either side of CAM Damola Ajayi. Jaden Williams led the line for Spurs, who got the game underway. Fulham started the game well, and after Oliver Gofford had hit an effort over Luca Gunter’s goal from the centre of the Spurs box, Aaron Loupalo met a cross from the right flank, inside the Spurs box. However, his effort was saved by Luca Gunter. Jaden Williams had an effort blocked by Caelan Avenall inside the Fulham box, before Archie Chaplin blocked Oliver Gofford’s effort at the other end of the pitch. 

Mikey Moore blocked an effort from Terrell Works, as Fulham continued their good start to the game. Archie Chaplin made a good recovery challenge on Aaron Loupalo, before the Fulham centre-forward received a through-ball pass, before continuing into the Spurs box. However, Luca Gunter read the situation well, and he was able to get an important hand on the ball. After winning a free-kick near the edge of the Fulham box, Mikey Moore hit an effort towards goal, which was deflected behind by the Fulham wall. Archie Chaplin did well to block an effort from Oliver Gofford, off the line inside the Spurs box, before Fulham won a penalty. Lemar Gordon was brought down by Jahziah Linton inside the Spurs box, as the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Terrell Works stepped up to find the bottom left corner of the Spurs goal, 0-1.

Not long after Fulham had taken the lead, the home side got another goal. Brandon Bryan-Waugh’s clearance inside the Spurs box following a Fulham chance, came to Oliver Gofford, who finished low past Luca Gunter, 0-2. After Aaron Loupalo turned his way past Archie Chaplin, the Fulham forward went forward with the ball and into the Spurs box. Luca Gunter was initially able to gather the ball, before Aaron Loupalo managed to get on the ball again, and this time he found the back of the net, 0-3. After dribbling his way into the Fulham box well, Callum Olusesi hit an effort over their goal. Archie Chaplin made a good challenge on Aaron Loupalo, inside the Spurs box, before Fulham extended their lead. Terrell Works passed the ball to Aaron Loupalo on the right side of the Spurs box, and the first year scholar found the bottom left corner of the goal, in what was the final chance of the first half, 0-4.

Fulham got the second half underway. After receiving Terell Works’ pass inside the Spurs box, Aaron Loupalo hit an effort just wide of the Spurs goal. Han Willhoft-King came on to replace Callum Olusesi, before Thomas Bloxham came on to replace Damola Ajayi. The impressive Aaron Loupalo hit an effort over the Spurs goal from inside the penalty area, and then Archie Chaplin managed to block Lemar Gordon’s effort on the edge of the Spurs box. Riley Owen was shown a yellow card by the referee after making a strong challenge, and then Maxwell McKnight had an effort blocked by Harvey Araujo on the right side of the Fulham box. Brad De Jesus hit an effort wide from distance, before Han Willhoft-King blocked an effort from the same player shortly after. Thomas Bloxham hit an effort wide from the edge of the Fulham box, as Spurs tried to get back in to the game.

Yusuf Akhamrich came on to replace Riley Owen, and then Oliver Gofford hit an effort wide of the Spurs goal, from inside their penalty area. Substitute Callum Osmand further extended Fulham’s lead after receiving a pass inside the Spurs box, Callum Osmand found the bottom left corner of Luca Gunter’s goal, 0-5. Thomas Bloxham had an ambitious effort from distance saved, before Fulham got another goal. It was a good move by the home side, as Terrell Works passed the ball to Callum Osmand inside the Spurs box, and he then finished past Luca Gunter, 0-6. The referee sounded his whistle for full-time soon after. Spurs’ Under 18 side face Norwich City at home next Saturday, in their next Premier League South fixture.

On Saturday Spurs’ Under 18 side faced Brighton & Hove Albion in an Under 18 Premier League South fixture, at Hotspur Way. Spurs won the game 3-0, and it was a good second half performance from Spurs, after quite an uneventful first half. Spurs lined-up with captain Luca Gunter in goal, as Maxwell McKnight, Archie Chaplin, Will Andiyapan and Jahziah Linton started in defence. George Abbott and Han Willhoft-King started in central midfield, with Mikey Moore and Riley Owen starting out wide on the flanks, either side of CAM Callum Olusesi. Oliver Irow led the line for Spurs, who got the game underway. George Abbott and Han Willhoft-King were both shown early yellow cards, before the first real chance of the game. That chance came Brighton’s way, as Remeiro Moulton hit a low effort wide of the Spurs goal, from the edge of their penalty area. 

Mikey Moore had an effort blocked inside the Brighton box, in what turned out to be the final chance of the first half. Brighton got the second half underway. Spurs had made a change at half-time as Tyrese Hall came on to replace Han Willhoft-King in central midfield. Charlie Penman hit an effort over the Spurs goal from the edge of their penalty area, before Brandon Bryan-Waugh came on to replace Callum Olusesi. Remeiro Moulton volleyed an effort from the edge of the Spurs box, before Luca Gunter tipped behind Yussif Owusu’s headed effort on goal, from a Brighton corner-kick. Thomas Bloxham replaced Riley Owen on 74 minutes, and then shortly after Maeson King replaced Jahziah Linton. Spurs did take the lead shortly after however, after Tyrese Hall had latched onto a loose pass. The midfielder then went forward with the ball before passing it to Oliver Irow, on the edge of the Brighton box. Oliver Irow continued into the penalty area before powerfully finishing past Brighton goalkeeper Tommy Reid, into the centre of the goal, 1-0. 

Archie Chaplin did well to block an effort from Remeiro Moulton inside the Spurs box, before Spurs doubled their lead. A cross from the right flank from the impressive Mikey Moore, managed to find Thomas Bloxham on the left side of the Brighton box. Bloxham’s resulting effort deflected off of a Brighton defender and went past the goalkeeper and into the goal, 2-0. Spurs made it 3-0 soon after, as Mikey Moore skilfully went past about four Brighton players, after going inside with the ball from the right flank, before entering the penalty area and finishing low past Tommy Reid, 3-0. James Roswell replaced Mikey Moore for the final minutes of the game, before the referee sounded his whistle for full-time. Spurs’ next competitive match at this level is away to Aston Villa in the Premier League South on Saturday the 1st of October.

Player reviews:

• Luca Gunter: The Spurs captain and goalkeeper made one important save during the second half. He was once again vocal throughout the match.
• Maxwell McKnight: Starting the match at right-back (he would also play further up the pitch at times in the game), Maxwell McKnight had a solid game defensively, and he got forward well on occasions as well.
• Archie Chaplin: The central defender defended well alongside Will Andiyapan, and he made some good and important decisions during the match.
• Will Andiyapan: Will Andiyapan did very well on the left side of central defence, alongside Archie Chaplin, and in the first half he made an important challenge inside the Spurs penalty area.
• Jahziah Linton: The left-back did well on the left flank defensively, and he also liked to get forward up the pitch, when he could.
• George Abbott: Tenacious and hardworking in central midfield, while also showing his quality on the ball on occasions, George Abbott got the assist for Mikey Moore’s late goal.
• Han Willhoft-King: The first year scholar completed the first half of the match with Brighton, in central midfield alongside George Abbott.
• Riley Owen: The winger started the game on the right flank. He linked up well with right-back Maxwell McKnight, and he also showed some good skill on the ball.
• Callum Olusesi: Callum Olusesi played in the CAM role for Spurs against Brighton, on Saturday. Olusesi would link-up with centre-forward Oliver Irow, during the game.
• Mikey Moore: My man of the match, see below.
• Oliver Irow: The centre-forward for the match, Oliver Irow worked well of the ball, and his movement was good. He also took his goal really well during the second half.
• Tyrese Hall: This was an impressive performance from second half substitute Tyrese Hall. Always looking to make that forward pass from his midfield role, the first year scholar was direct with the ball, and he showed some good skill, but he also worked very hard off the ball. Tyrese set-up Oliver Irow’s goal.
• Brandon Bryan-Waugh: The second half substitute made a really good impression on the game from the right-back position. Bryan-Waugh got forward really well, to support the forward players.
• Thomas Bloxham: The Republic of Ireland youth international took his goal well after being introduced to the game in the 74th minute. Thomas Bloxham looked lively during his time on the pitch.
• Maeson King: The defender came on in the 77th minute of the game to replace Jahziah Linton.
• James Roswell: The late substitute went into midfield late on in the match.

My man of the match – Mikey Moore. The schoolboy footballer and England youth international got a goal and an assist against Brighton, and during the second half the skilful and creative winger made a really good impression on the game. Mikey Moore went on a really good and skilful run for his goal, in the second half.

In their first group-stage game of the 2022/23 UEFA Youth League, Spurs’ Under 19 side faced French side Olympique de Marseille at Hotspur Way, on Tuesday afternoon. Wayne Burnett’s Spurs side won the game 3-0, and it was an impressive performance from Spurs in what was their first UEFA Youth League game since the 2019/20 season. Spurs lined-up with Luca Gunter in goal, while George Abbott, Alfie Dorrington, Will Andiyapan and Tyrell Ashcroft started in defence. Captain Matthew Craig and Nile John started in central midfield, as Romaine Mundle and Roshaun Mathurin started out on the flanks, either side of CAM Jamie Donley. Jaden Williams led the line for Spurs. Marseille got the game underway. Roshaun Mathurin hit an early effort over from the edge of the Marseille penalty area, before Luca Gunter made a very important save at the other end of the pitch, to stop Emran Soglo’s effort from close range, inside the Spurs box. 

Nile John had a deflected effort on the Marseille goal saved by goalkeeper Jelle Van Neck. Then, after trying to meet Luca Gunter’s long kick forward, Romaine Mundle managed to get onto the ball on the left side of the Marseille penalty area, but his resulting effort went wide across the goal. Raimane Daou had an effort from the edge of the Spurs box saved by Luca Gunter, a couple of minutes later. After Lucas Boulmot’s sliding challenge on Will Andiyapan inside the Marseille box resulted in the defender getting nothing on the ball, the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Up stepped Jamie Donley, who calmly found the bottom right corner of the goal, 1-0. Emran Soglo hit an effort wide from the edge of the Spurs box, and then shortly after Lucas Boulmot volleyed wide Jores Rahou’s corner-kick. Jamie Donley received a yellow card, and then a volleyed effort from Jores Rahou from distance went wide of Luca Gunter’s goal. 

On 32 minutes Spurs doubled their lead. After George Abbott had won the ball on the right flank, the second year scholar passed the ball to Romaine Mundle, who went forward with the ball down the right flank, before showing some good skill on the ball and delivering a low cross in front of the centre of the Marseille goal, which Jaden Williams tapped into the empty goal from close range, 2-0. Rayan Hassad hit an effort wide of the Spurs goal from distance, and then some good skill from Jores Rahou, resulted in him going into the Spurs box, but his effort went into the side-netting of Luca Gunter’s goal. Mathew Craig hit an effort over from the edge of the Marseille penalty area, and then a couple of minutes later, Yakine Mmadi Said hit an effort wide of the Spurs goal, from the edge of their penalty area, in what was the final chance of the first half. Spurs got the second half underway. After Jaden Williams had won the ball off of Rayan Hassad, he tried to score a goal from distance, with a lofted effort. However, Jelle Van Neck was able to make the save. After Nile John hit a powerful effort which seemed to deflect onto the crossbar of the Marseille goal, the alert Jaden Williams ran into the centre of the Marseille box to get on the ball and finish with a first time effort, 3-0.

Luca Gunter managed to save an effort from distance, just before Spurs made their first change of the game, as Maxwell McKnight came on to replace Roshaun Mathurin. Romaine Mundle hit a free-kick effort wide of the Marseille goal, from a difficult angle on the right flank, before Emran Soglo hit an effort over the Spurs goal, at the other end of the pitch. Damola Ajayi and Mikey Moore then came on to replace Jaden Williams and Romaine Mundle, respectively. After receiving the ball on the right flank, Nile John went past Elasrar Mohamed on the edge of the Marseille penalty area. John then passed the ball to Maxwell McKnight, whose first time effort was saved by Jelle Van Neck. Spurs made more changes as Jahziah Linton came on to replace Tyrell Ashcroft, and Thomas Bloxham came on to replace Jamie Donley. George Abbott did well to block behind Esey Gebreyesus’s effort inside the Spurs box. Luca Gunter saved a late Marseille effort from distance, before a surging forward from Nile John resulted in the 19 year old sending a lofted effort over the Marseille goal. The referee sounded his whistle for full-time shortly afterwards. Spurs’ next game in this competition is on next Tuesday, when they face Portuguese side Sporting Club de Portugal. 

Player reviews:

• Luca Gunter: The Spurs goalkeeper made a really important and impressive early save to stop Marseille from scoring, and overall he had a solid game on his UEFA Youth League debut. Luca Gunter was very vocal throughout the match. 
• George Abbott: My man of the match, see below.
• Alfie Dorrington: Like George Abbott, central defender Alfie Dorrington was good in defence, alert, and commanding throughout the match. He impressed alongside Will Andiyapan.
• Will Andiyapan: The versatile defender and Wales youth international also impressed on his UEFA Youth League debut. Will Andiyapan read the game well, and he also got forward to win the penalty that was awarded for Spurs during the first half.
• Tyrell Ashcroft: Reading the game well and also defending well as he helped Spurs to keep a clean-sheet, Tyrell Ashcroft had a good all-round game in the left-back position.
• Matthew Craig: The Spurs captain had an assured game in central midfield, and he also used the ball well, and got forward well on occasions.
• Nile John: The central midfielder created some good chances during the game, and he was always looking to go forward with the ball.
• Romaine Mundle: The winger started the game out on the right flank and he went on some good forward runs. Romaine Mundle got the assist for Jaden Williams’ first goal of the game, after some good work from the second year professional. 
• Jamie Donley: The Spurs CAM took the penalty kick well during the first half to score a goal. The second year scholar worked well off the ball and he linked up well with Jaden Williams.
• Roshaun Mathurin: The winger started the game on the left flank, and during his time on the pitch he was always trying to go forward with the ball, whenever he got on the ball. 
• Jaden Williams: The centre-forward made some really good runs off the ball during the game against Marseille, and he worked so hard off the ball. A good all-round performance resulted in him scoring two goals, during his time on the pitch.
• Maxwell McKnight: The second half substitute did well when he came on, and he almost scored a goal, from a chance that was created by Nile John.
• Damola Ajayi: The forward came on in the second half, and he made a good impression on the game, moving well both with and without the ball, on occasions.
• Mikey Moore: The second half substitute made a Luka Modrić-esque forward pass with the outside of his foot, to create a chance during his time on the pitch.
• Jahziah Linton: The left-back came on late on in the game.
• Thomas Bloxham: The creative forward was a late substitute during the game against Marseille.

My man of the match –  George Abbott. I was really impressed with how well George Abbott did, once again when playing at right-back. The second year scholar was defensively very good, and he defended his side of the pitch really well. The midfielder played a part in Spurs’ second goal of the game.