Spurs finally find way to win
CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN, long linked with a move to Real Madrid, is now going to Barcelona.
More importantly, thanks to his late strike at Wembley last night, he is taking with him a Tottenham side to the Nou Camp in a fortnight’s time which still has a chance of reaching the knockout stages.
Tottenham had looked down and out when they were trailing to PSV in their previous game here, so it was something of a bonus to come into this with Champions League qualification entirely in their own hands. All they had to do was beat Inter and Barcelona. A week in which this tie was sandwiched between London derbies against Chelsea and Arsenal was challenging enough. And Inter shut up shop last night.
But as they did against Chelsea on Saturday, Spurs set about them with energy and pace. The difference this time was that the Italians, unlike Maurizio Sarri’s team, were able to weather the storm. Just.
Clumsy challenges conceded a number of free-kicks for the home side, but with Eriksen rested on the bench the quality of the delivery suffered.
At the other end, the return of Jan Vertonghen in place of Juan Foyth gave Spurs a more resolute air.
But an over-elaborate back pass from Harry Winks nearly caught out Hugo Lloris and luckily Toby Alderweireld was on hand to block when his goalkeeper played an awkward attempted pass straight to Matteo Politano.
Spurs’ first real chance came on the half hour when Moussa Sissoko broke from his own area to snatch possession and tee up Lucas Moura to force a low save out of Samir Handanovic.
The Inter goalkeeper was just a spectator eight minutes later when Winks, given too much space 25 yards from goal, curved a dipping shot smack against the face of the crossbar.
After coming from behind to win in the San Siro, a draw would be enough to guarantee Inter qualification and by sitting back they seemed to be relying on that. After a goalless opening
half the impetus remained on Tottenham to find a way of unlocking the Serie A side if they were to avoid the ignominy of joining neighbours Arsenal in the Europa League.
The Premier League side kept up the pressure but struggled to supply the necessary quality to make it count – the low point coming when Winks’ volley was so badly struck the ball span out for a throw.
Erik Lamela, wearing a sticking plaster above his eye after a clash of heads against Crystal Palace, did manage to pick out Vertonghen with a corner but the flick header flew harmlessly wide. And moments later the Belgian had to be on his toes to prevent Mauro Icardi from exploiting the gaps that were increasingly apparent in Spurs’ defence.
It was clear Mauricio Pochettino had to change something up and after 62 minutes Heung-Min Son replaced Moura and nearly forced an own goal off Stefan de Vrij almost immediately.
Son’s pace was unsettling Inter and amid the confusion the South Korean caused, Dele Alli fired a 66th-minute volley just past the far post.
It was not until the 70th minute that Eriksen finally made his bow and his first act was to deliver one of his free-kick specials.
Somehow Vertonghen, picked out perfectly at the far post, failed to score from four yards.
Save from a sharp chance from Ivan Perisic which Lloris blocked at his near post, Inter were now contributing little, looking to run down the clock.
And then it happened. Sissoko’s bursting run, Alli’s top-quality turn, the 22-yearold’s vision to pick out Eriksen and the Dane’s certainty in supplying the killer finish.
The piece of class Tottenham had lacked had suddenly materialised with 10 minutes to go. It was good enough. No doubt Spurs deserved their win – and increasingly they are showing they are a maturing team capable of getting what they deserve.
But surely they cannot beat Barcelona? Can they?
SPURS (4-2-3-1): Lloris; Aurier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies; Winks (Dier 87), Sissoko; Lamela (Eriksen 70), Alli, Lucas (Son 62); Kane. Booked: Alderweireld, Lamela, Son.
Goal: Eriksen 80. INTER MILAN (4-2-3-1): Handanovic; D’Ambrosio, De Vrij (Mirandaa 82), Skriniar, Asamoah; Vecino, Brozovic; Politano (Keita 82), Nainggolan (Valero 44), Perisic; Icardi. Booked: De Vrij, Valero. Referee: C Cakir (Turkey). @MattDunnExpress