semi.
Spurs rode out winners in their League Cup quarter final, in what was West Ham’s final, with another player coming to the party.
Don’t know if it was Covid or the backlog of games Spurs have, with the festive period amount coming up but Bergwijn was probably a surprise inclusion in the first team, for most.
Conte had reverted back to his 3-4-3, which was more a 3-4-2-1, with the Dutchman and Moura in that two behind Kane. Early on it looked like a shop window choice. Bergwijn looked shot of any confidence, a player who has played just 13 minutes since Conte arrived.
With just one goal to his name since he missed those chances away to Liverpool in the league, when a win would have kept Spurs at the top of the league. He initially looked like he wouldn’t get another for the club before he moved in January. He had an early shot but from the moment he picked up the ball he looked like he’d rather be somewhere else, anywhere, before a weak shot went well wide.
Half an hour in and it all changed. It started with Skipp winning the ball midway in the opposition half, from there Kane had a bang from just outside the box, the ball was played about a bit but eventually came out to Hojbjerg who played the longest one-two with Bergwijn, who was there in the middle when the Dane crossed the ball for a tap in. From there, with the confidence of that goal, he looked a different player, when he made the winner.
Of course the lead had been lost by then. Just three minutes after it was gained. Hugo had already made two great saves when from a goal-kick they did that split defender thing and the ball being passed inside the area, from there Dier’s ball out went straight to one of their players – might as well have booted the goal kick up the park – from there a poor shot found Bowen in the middle of the box, who turned Dier and gave Hugo no chance with the shot.
It was only two minutes later when Bergwijn made the difference. At the edge of the area, he jinked and then ran into the box, rode a couple of challenges – that previous would see him lose the ball – and crossed the ball for Moura to tap in this time.
It was an end to endish kind of game, both sides with good chances. Hugo and the likes of Skipp keeping them out, while Spurs were keeping themselves out. Sonny’s first touch does seem to have deserted him of late. While Kane looked lumbering again. Conte shifted back to the 3-5-2 with the substitutions. Sonny being one, with Winks, who added nothing.
Others came in but Spurs were still doing that hanging on to see out the game with a one goal lead thing, they keep doing. Well, they saw this one out – do feel they do that in the new manager’s first few games, it’s later when it goes tits up – and are in the semi, against Chelsea…