Inter stun Spurs with late fightback
Late goals from Mauro Icardi and Matias Vecino stunned Tottenham as Inter Milan celebrated their return to the Champions League with a dramatic Group B 2-1 win.
Christian Eriksen’s deflected strike earlier in the second half looked to have been decisive for Spurs, who stepped up a gear after an unconvincing first period, beset by poor passing.
However, Argentine Icardi, a peripheral figure for long periods, levelled with a 20-yard volley five minutes from time.
And Uruguayan midfielder Vecino then headed a winner in added time to send Spurs to a third consecutive defeat.
It had looked like being a good evening for Mauricio Pochettino’s side, even if they started as though back-to-back Premier League defeats by Watford and Liverpool had taken their toll.
If that encouraged a vociferous San Siro crowd, Luciano Spalleti’s team were unable to capitalise.
Instead they carried their indifferent Serie A form - they are 15th after winning just one of their first four games - into European competition, and were eventually punished by Denmark midfielder Eriksen.
The 26-year-old was the visitors’ standout performer and followed up on his own parried shot to give Spurs the lead with an effort that veered over goalkeeper Samir Handanovic via a nick off Inter defender Miranda.
For drama, it all looked a far cry from the clubs’ last meeting in the competition in 2010, when the Italians led 4-0 after 35 minutes before a 21-year-old Gareth Bale announced himself with a hat-trick that nearly transformed the game.
But drama there was, at the very last, as Inter first looked to have salvaged a point, and then stole all three to follow group leaders Barcelona with a opening-day win.
It was a night of contrasting fortunes for Harry Kane and his opposite number Icardi, who both average better than a goal every two games for their clubs.
They shared the frustration of being isolated for long periods, with Icardi touching the ball 15 times and Kane 25.
While Kane did some of his best work in central positions linking the play with teammates, it was his failure to convert a glorious first-half opportunity that will again raise question marks over his form and fitness. Tottenham visit Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday. Their next Champions League action sees them welcome Barcelona to Wembley on October 3. Inter travel to PSV Eindhoven the same night.BBC Sports Barcelona 4-0 PSV, Inter Milan 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool 3-2 PSG,
Club Brugge 0-1 Borussia Dortmund, Monaco 1-2 Atletico Madrid
Crvena Zvezda 0-0 Napoli, Galatasaray 3-0 Lokomotiv Moskva
Schalke 04 1-1 Porto. Ajax v AEK Athens, Shakhtar Donetsk v Hoffenheim, Viktoria Plzen v CSKA Moskva, Valencia v Juventus, Benfica v Bayern Munich, Real Madrid v Roma, Manchester City v Olympique Lyon, Young Boys v Manchester United.-BBC