barely deserving to win it.
Spurs poor home form looked have been stopped by a late winner, until they coughed up an even later equaliser to draw 2-2 with Man United in a Europa final rematch.
Well, it wasn’t a great match but it wasn’t as turgid as that cup final. Frank put out a bit more livelier collection that of late, two strikers, though neither of them played like strikers and for the most part neither played liked they’d ever scored a goal in their life, nor never would.
There was more press than we’ve seen of late. Still not PSG levels but better. It’s just the attack. There was a lot of starting runs with a purpose that petered out very quickly, into standing still and passing sideways. Players in white on the ball looking up and there’s nobody in the box to aim to.
For all the talk about United’s superiority in the game at the end of the half ball possession was roughly the same, while total shots were equal. It’s just the visitors had one on target and that had resulted in the opening goal.
A omnishamblesclusterfuck of a goal. It starts with Sarr deciding to pass the ball backwards in his own box, playing a dreadful ball to van de Ven, taking the defender by surprise his attempted clearance was blocked, the resulting cross was headed clear by Spence but United got it back. So while the United player lined up his cross he had two Spurs players on him, Spence and Richy. Both stood still and did that arms behind the back flinching out of the way, I’m blocking really, non block. When one of them could have stood his ground, while the other closed him down. Just bloody done something. The cross then finds Mbuemo, who didn’t really ghost past the Spurs defence but was just ignored by them as they ran past him. Porro in particular.
Frank made a halftime change, with Odobert coming on for Muani. The latter, well, as said before he never looked like scoring. The second half saw more action from Spurs bringing out saves from their keeper, from Romero and than Palhinha. It looked like being one of those days.The latter then made way for Bentancur, while Xavi was taken off for Tel. I said when Xavi went off the other day that that would be the biggest cheer he would get at the club. Well, they booed this decision.
One sub was partly working, Udogie was better on the left than Spence, not sure I would have switched Spence to the right, bringing off Porro, just made it a straight swap.
Johnson had the ball in the back of the net, but was so obviously offside. It’s pretty much he did all day apart from looking permanently bewildered.
The equaliser came just six minutes before the 90 was up. Odobert seemed to have his best outing for Spurs as he pushed ahead before passing out to Udogie, the Italian’s cross was taken down well by Tel and his turn and shot was decent enough, though the deflection certainly helped. Spurs were on top.
A minute into added time and it looked like the winner. Shortly before United were through on goal but another tackling masterclass by Micky saw him take the ball, while the striker hobbled away. Odobert again, with a decent attempt that Richarlison guided into the net.
But they thought they’d won it, dropped off and dropped deep and gave up a corner. From that no one paid any attention to de Ligt at the back post and Vicario did that thing of his. Now while his shot stopping is quality from situations like this he has a habit of back-peddling into his own goal while trying to palm balls out. It just doesn’t work. He needs to be more assertive and go forward.
They said Spurs didn’t deserve to win and that United controlled the game, despite Spurs having more of the ball and twice the number of shots and twice the number on target… but narrative you know…