just.
Just when it looked like the new White Hart Lane would be somewhere you wouldn’t see European football, never mind Champions league football this season, up pops Harry Kane to save the campaign… for now.
Still a long way to go, Spurs have to beat Inter, more than likely by a better margin than Inter beat them and then hope that Barca slack off in the final game, in the Spanish city, or that PSV go out in a blaze of glory.
Just over a minute in and it looked like the new stadium wouldn’t be hosting any European football, never mind being “the only one to see Champions league football in London” in. Another corner, another goal conceded. Dele getting the blame for letting their centre forward, de Jon, through to score. Missing the point glaringly obvious point… why was Dele marking their centre forward? And Spurs are sitting bottom of the league.
What followed was one of the usual Spurs scenarios. The batter a team, who are sitting back, without scoring, while their keeper has a highlight reel game, scenario. Yup, we’ve all seen that one before.
When Spurs were clear through, saves being made from Moura, Dele – lovely back-heel flick – Eriksen, Kane, good chances, most Spurs fans would be thinking… “it’s gonna be one of those days”.
It was attack after attack, it could only be, with what Pochettino had at his disposal his starting XI somewhat resembled those that Ozzie Ardilles sent out at the start of the ’94 season. Though Poch upped the Famous Five, of Sheringham, Kilnsmann, Darren Anderton, Nick Barmby and Ilie Dumitrescu, to six with Winks, Eriksen, Dele, Son, Moura and Kane. Not so much in defence there.
Lamela was the one that was unlucky to miss out. As the game dragged on without a Spurs goal it was screaming out for his introduction. When it came, just after the hour it as met with boos, as Moura made way. Have to say, I found it a head scratcher. Son wasn’t having such a good game, will Moura was causing trouble.
While this was going on Gazzaniga was standing in for the banned Lloris, thankfully ahead of Vorm, and with little to do he made some decent saves when called upon. Most were saves he should make, shots close to him but at least he made them. Though his Cruyff turn was a bit of a heart stopper.
When the equaliser finally came, as at the weekend, it came from a longer ball. Eriksen chipped one from just inside the PSV half. Kane fought for it, it went up and down to, the recently introduced, Llorente, who played it off for Harry to bang it in.
A draw would keep Spurs in the hunt but in reality a win was required. It thankfully came just seconds before the end of normal time and it was that man again, well via a number of deflections. Dele’s ball down the channel and Davies was at the byline to put in a decent cross, Kane drops back a pace and nods it towards goal, where one arm and then one knee deflect it into the net.
When the fourth official stuck up the added time board it read six minutes and everyone thought “there’s still time to lose this”. The fact that Spurs held on probably contributed to the confused look on Pochettino’s face at the final whistle.
Spurs are here again giving you hope… it’s the hope that kills you…