SPURS SHOW FIGHTING SPIRIT
Europa League in sight for Jose but win soured by Son and Lloris clash
AND to think it all started with a kiss. Or a hug, at least, between the two managers, old foes meeting in competition for the first time in a decade.
Jose Mourinho was at Inter Milan and Carlo Ancelotti was at Chelsea when their teams collided in the last 16 of the Champions League in 2010.
That was a tie was played out in febrile atmosphere, with Inter rejuvenated on their way to a treble and Mourinho making his first return to an adoring crowd at Stamford Bridge, where Ancelotti was already on the way to a double.
How things have changed. This time these two managerial legends met in north London, in the near silence of post-pandemic football and in charge of two mediocre team contesting the dubious privilege of a boost towards a late run at the Europa League places.
And the first flash of passion came when Hugo Lloris tried to pick a fight with Son Heung-min as the teams headed for the dressing rooms at half-time.
Tottenham were a goal to the good thanks to a shot by Giovani Lo Celso which was diverted past his own goalkeeper by Michael Keane, but they had switched off in the final seconds and conceded a couple of chances.
Lloris was furious and stalked towards Son, pointing his finger and telling him precisely what he thought of him. It seemed to be that the Spurs keeper thought he ought to worked harder to prevent a run by Richarlison.
Lo Celso got between them and Eric Dier pushed Son down the tunnel. More infighting. It is only four months since Dier was wading into the crowd to confront a Tottenham supporter after their exit from the FA Cup. This time, they were ahead. Tottenham had barely threatened when they scored midway through the first half. Lucas Moura flashed a shot wide from the edge of the penalty area but that was all before the goal which was officially credited as an own goal by Keane.
Son played a pass into Harry Kane in the penalty box. Kane’s effort was blocked by Mason Holgate but fell kindly at the feet of Lo Celso, who collected the ball, spun on to his left foot in a tight space and went for goal.
He dug out a curling effort which appeared to be going wide until it clipped Keane in the midriff as he tried to recover ground, deceived goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and dropped into the net.
Spurs have found clean sheets hard to come by, even under a manager with a defensive reputation like Mourinho. They came into this game with only five clean sheets in the Premier League this season.
Toby Alderweireld was restored at the heart of the defence, his first start since the lockdown and his first start since the rather feeble European demise in Leipzig.
Mourinho claimed it was a selection inspired by Everton’s style with two strikers, Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, rather than a simple reaction to the shambolic defending on display in a defeat at Sheffield United last week.
Tottenham grew in confidence after going ahead. Eric Dier swerved a free kick over and Kane smashed one into the defensive wall after a foul on Son by Andre Gomes.
When the two players collided at Goodison Park in November, Gomes was left with a badly broken leg. Son tripped him from behind to stop his progress and the Everton midfielder suffered the injury as he lost his balance and fell awkwardly.
Son was sent off, a red card which was later rescinded and, thankfully, Gomes was back on the pitch within four months.
Everton lost Holgate to injury before half-time. He appeared to come off worse as he felled Lo Celso and, although he tried to soldier on, could not continue and was replaced by Yerry Mina.
Ancelotti’s side have been in good shape since the restart, with a goalless draw in the Merseyside derby followed by victories against Norwich and Leicester.
Here, however, 40 minutes had passed before they extended Hugo Lloris.
Their first glimpse of a chance came from a deep corner taken by Gylfi Sigurdsson and met at the back-post by Calvert-Lewin, who peeled away from his marker and
nodded the ball down towards goal. Lloris dived forward on to his belly to sweep the ball safely out for a corner with a hand.
Everton took encouragement and Tottenham switched off again, in the fifth minute of added time at the end of the first half, when they surrendered possession cheaply on halfway and failed to close down.
Mina carried the ball forward and gave it to Richarlison and the Brazilian striker unleashed a fierce drive which grazed the outside of the post as it flew wide.
This was what prompted Lloris to unleash his anger in the direction of Son.
It has been a peculiar season of blood-letting since the Champions League final. First the exit of Mauricio Pochettino and the arrival of Mourinho.
The players could be seen in conversation in the tunnel before they returned for the second half, and they were quickly involved.
Ancelotti sent on Anthony Gordon to replace Alex Iwobi and the teenager tested the Spurs keeper with a firm strike from range.
Son, subdued since his broken arm and military service in South Korea during the lockdown, burst to life. Perhaps Lloris had stoked the fire.
Pickford saved twice from Son, who was narrowly off target with another effort. The second goal eluded
Tottenham but they defended their lead and they have another fascinating episode for the Amazon documentary.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (4-3-3): Lloris 7; Aurier 7, Alderweireld 7, Dier 7.5, Davies 6.5; Sissoko 6, Winks 6, Lo Celso 7 (Vertonghen 90min); Moura 6 (Lamela 82), Kane 6, Son 6 (Bergwijn 78). Subs not used: Gazzaniga, Cirkin, Sanchez, Skipp, Ndombele, Gedson. Scorer: Keane 24 (og). Booked: Sissoko, Davies, Alderweireld. Manager: Jose Mourinho 7. EVERTON (4-4-2): Pickford 6.5; Coleman 6.5 (Sidibe 77), Keane 6, Holgate 6 (Mina 36, 6), Digne 6; Davies 6 (Kean 77), Gomes 5; Richarlison 7, Sigurdsson 5 (Bernard 67, 6), Iwobi 5 (Gordon 46, 6.5); Calvert-Lewin 6.5. Subs not used: Stekelenburg, Baines, Branthwaite, Baningime. Booked: Holgate, Gomes. Manager: Carlo Ancelotti 6. Referee: Graham Scott 6.