Eriksen seals recovery in stunning Spurs comeback
● Brilliant Dane runs the show as Tottenham fight back from two-goal deficit in Turin
Christian Eriksen completed a remarkable Tottenham comeback last night as they rallied from two down to draw with Juventus.
Spurs will take two precious away goals into the second leg at Wembley next month after Harry Kane’s clinical finish and a clever free-kick by the superb Eriksen ensured a fascinating contest finished 2-2 in Turin.
Mauricio Pochettino’s men were on the brink after Gonzalo Higuain put Juventus two up within nine minutes, the second a penalty after Ben Davies fouled Federico Bernardeschi.
Juve surrendered all momentum after their blistering start and Spurs will now be targeting a first Champions League quarter-final since 2011.
But whether it was nerves or a lack of concentration, Spurs made a nightmare start. It began with Jan Vertonghen’s skewed clearance causing momentary panic and the otherwise excellent Mousa Dembele responded by crashing into Miralem Pjanic.
What followed was the combination of a brilliantly executed free-kick and sloppy marking as Pjanic lofted the ball down the blind side of the wall where Higuain peeled away, before volleying first time past Hugo Lloris.
There was worse to come as an innocuous-looking pass was delivered towards Bernardeschi in the box and instead of standing his man up, Davies tried to win the ball but succeeded only in kicking his opponent.
Referee Felix Brych pointed to the spot, Higuain converted and Tottenham were two down within nine minutes.
Perhaps Juventus felt their work was done because almost instantly they retreated, dropping deep like the away side and allowing Spurs to dictate the contest.
Kane should have scored, but headed straight at Gianluigi Buffon from five yards. Then the tie could have been over had Juve made the most of one scintillating counterattack but Higuain, having expertly worked the space with a dummy, fired just wide of Lloris’ post.
Moments earlier, however, Dele Alli had only been denied by a last-ditch Bernardeschi challenge and Tottenham’s dominance finally paid off when the midfielder slipped Kane in behind. Kane coolly rounded Buffon and slotted in for his seventh goal of the tournament.
With Eriksen now running the game, the visitors fancied a second but such was the topsy-turvy nature of the half they also could have been dead and buried at the interval.
In another moment of madness, serge a uri er scythed down Douglas Costa in the box but this time Higuain, on a hattrick, slammed his penalty against the crossbar.
After the break, the game was more evenly split as Juve abandoned their rearguard action and met Tottenham higher up the pitch.
Bernardeschi’s shot was tipped wide by Lloris but both teams seemed wary of pushing forward for fear of being opened up at the back. so it was almost inevitable that any goal would come from a set-piece. Alli won the free-kick on the edge of the area and Eriksen drilled it low and into the bottom corner. Buffon might have been disappointed not to push it round the post.
That knocked the stuffing out of Juventus as January signing Lucas Moura came on to make his Tottenham debut off the bench. It was Pochettino smiling and the travelling fans singing at the final whistle.
JUVENTUS: Buffon, De Sciglio, Benatia, Chiellini, Alex Sandro, Khedira (Bentancur 66), Pjanic, Bernardeschi, Douglas Costa (Asamoah 90) ,Higuain, Mandzukic (Sturaro 76). Subs not used: Szczesny, Marchisio, Rugani, Muratore. SPURS: Lloris, Aurier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Davies, Eriksen (Wanyama 90), Dier, Dembele, Lamela (Lucas Moura 88), Kane, Alli (Son 83). Subs not used: Gazzaniga, Trippier, Rose, Sissoko.