HAZARD’S AMAZING SLALOM GOAL
DELE ALLI stepped forward to deliver the perfect flourish to a thrilling and emotional homecoming to Milton Keynes. Alli struck the winner in a shootout to book Tottenham a place in the last 16 of the Carabao Cup and his name bellowed around the stadium they like to call the Moo Camp.
He was the returning hero but Paulo Gazzaniga played his part, recovering from the agony of Etienne Capoue’s deflected equaliser in the 90th minute to save penalties from Capoue and Domingos Quina.
Spurs were faultless from the spot at their latest lodgings and it was fitting that Alli should step up to clinch victory which at one point seemed to be sliding out of reach.
Mauricio Pochettino, having hailed him as the ‘King of MK’ on the eve of the game, said: ‘He was inspired by the occasion, he was so excited and the energy was amazing. All the pictures in the dressing room are of him in Milton Keynes shirts.
‘We could feel the love the people have for him. It was a great experience and for him something he will remember all his life, to be Tottenham captain in his home town and to score two penalties,
‘It’s difficult for him to have another possibility in the future. I want to give him a good feeling. I think he feels very proud. And a good thing for him. I hope he appreciates my gesture.’
Pochettino once visited this stadium to see Alli sparkle for MK Dons against Manchester United and saw enough to give his approval to a £5million deal. Four years on, they were back in the same competition, but Tottenham meandered through the first half and were still snoozing when, 41 seconds into the second, they were carved open and Isaac Success fired Watford ahead.
The goal jolted the game into life as Pochettino made changes from the bench, with Fernando Llorente finally providing the team with a focal point in attack and Son Heung-min adding pace.
Tottenham fans came to life with them.
Having battled through M1 roadworks and disruption on the trains from London Euston, there was a strangely subdued atmosphere at times.
‘You’re supposed to be at home’, crowed 4,000 from Watford fans, taunting the predicament of their homeless hosts. Watford had wanted to play this game at Vicarage Road.
The official attendance of 23,650 at the Stadium MK was comparable with the 23,926 who turned out to see Tottenham against Barnsley at Wembley, at the same stage of this competition, last season.
And more than the 20,141 who were at Vicarage Road, when these teams last met in the Premier League.
‘Thank you to our fans,’ said Pochettino. ‘They deserve praise. They come here and offer support and they made a massive effort. It’s important for us to show gratitude to them and then to say thank you to Milton Keynes, to the town and the club.
‘They welcome us in a good way. They help us in everything. We have played eight games, six in the Premier League, one in the Carabao Cup and one in the Champions League, and we have played six away from home, and two at Wembley.
‘On Saturday we go to Huddersfield. It is fantastic effort from the team to play away from home.’
Alli levelled from the spot with only 10 0 minutes remaining, after Christian Kabasele was adjudged to have fouled him from behind.
Kabasele was dismissed by referee Lee Mason just three minutes after coming on as a substitute and Watford boss Javi Gracia was not impressed.
‘ I like to respect the referee because it’s not easy,’ said Gracia. ‘But this was hard to accept, not only the penalty but then the red card. I don’t understand the decision.’
Spurs were also down to 10 men by this stage. Serge Aurier had been forced off with a thigh injury and all the subs were on, but Pochettino’s men had the momentum on their side.
Erik Lamela grabbed a second with a delectable clipped finish to beat former Spurs keeper Heurelho Gomes from a pass by Mousa Dembele. Tottenham thought that would be enough but Watford reshuffled and equalised when Capoue’s drive clipped Ben Davies and evaded Gazzaniga in the last minute and the tie went to penalties.
The stage was set for Alli, the King of MK.