SPURS HIT WITH SOME HOME TRUTHS
Tottenham rocked by Ajax kids’ early goal
This being Tottenham in Europe, no one will be writing them off just yet. it was, however, a desperately disappointing night for a team their manager believes can reach for the stars.
Not just the defeat, although that was bad enough and leaves them needing victory in Amsterdam to progress to the Champions League final.
What has also been surrendered in a matter of days is Tottenham’s air of invincibility in their wonderful new stadium. having not so much as conceded a goal here, Tottenham have now suffered two defeats in four days, and not small ones, either.
Losing to local irritants West ham could be dismissed as a blip, although with the battle for the top four places far from over, it may assume greater significance.
Yet conceding here and being second best to Ajax for long periods — particularly in the first half — shows good foundations support more than just architecture. Tottenham need a team as impressive as their new home and, until they get that, there will always be frustrations.
On the plus side, it could have been worse. had David Neres’ shot on 78 minutes not hit a post, Tottenham could have been close
to out of the competition altogether. The shot looked to be going in. indeed, spurs goalkeeper hugo Lloris was stranded to the extent he didn’t even dive. Yet the woodwork was struck and Tottenham breathed again.
Recalling the fine margins of sergio Aguero’s offside in the last round, one might even think it was fated to be their year were it not for the result and the resilience of this young Ajax side.
As impressive as they were controlling the game before half-time, so they were admirable in their resistance as Tottenham strived for a late equaliser. Ajax had the best scoring opportunities, but Tottenham dominated the second half, yet met a defensive wall every bit as substantial as the towering white one behind Ajax’s goal.
Those fans did their best to suck the ball into Ajax’s net, but goalkeeper Andre Onana and his back four held firm. Daley Blind repelled aerial attacks in his sleep. Ajax dispensed with the niceties and hoofed it when necessary, too.
it helped, obviously, that Tottenham were shorn of their two most effective forwards — harry Kane and the suspended son heungmin. The Korean will be back for the second leg, but not Kane and perhaps not Jan Vertonghen, either, after what looked to be a serious head injury.
None of this is helping make the case for the comeback. Nor is the fact that only one of the last 17 teams to lose a first-leg semi-final at home in this competition have reached the final. And that was Ajax 23 years ago.
it was a horrid first 45 minutes for Tottenham. Ajax were the better side, scored an away goal, had the best of the chances and, to add injury to insult, Vertonghen was lost to a spiteful head wound that may be compounded with a concussion that will keep him out of the return leg next Wednesday.
From the start, Tottenham did not look entirely comfortable. Davinson sanchez was caught in possession by Donny van de Beek and needed to recover frantically to concede nothing more serious than a corner. Neres was getting in behind Tottenham on the right, Dusan Tadic was linking play neatly as always and Van de Beek is the type of smart, inventive forward midfield player the Dutch produce as if from an assembly line. it was only a matter of time before Ajax did serious damage.
After 15 minutes, they did just that. Neres started the move on the left but Lasse schone and hakim Ziyech were also involved, the latter finding Van de Beek in a fabulous position, played onside by Kieran Trippier.
For a moment, time stood still, Van de Beek maybe imagining a raised flag, or the belated intrusion of VAR. it had saved spurs in Manchester. Not this time.
Van de Beek paused long enough to let Lloris commit and his finish was coolness personified, although Ajax’s celebrations revealed their true feelings.
it could have been worse for Tottenham, immediately after. Neres down the left again and Tottenham so stretched Danny Rose ended up being drawn to the near post, almost turning his interception into his own net.
Van de Beek could have got a second on 24 minutes, put through by a Tadic pass, but was thwarted by an excellent save from Lloris.
By now Tottenham were rattled and Rose was very fortunate referee Antonio Maheu Lahoz did not see one tussle with Joel Veltman after the ball had gone. his opponent held down, Rose briefly had an arm cocked and looked ready to deliver but wisely thought better of it.
soon after, Mauricio Pochettino moved him forward, switched to a back four and deployed Vertonghen in a left-back role. it was not a change that would last long.
in the 33rd minute, both spurs centre backs attacked a high ball into the area — the best route to goal for the home side, although less effective as the game wore on — and were laid out by Onana.
he looked a bit of a flapper with the aerial stuff which might be mitigation, but his style on this occasion seemed a throwback to the days when duels from set pieces were very much wars of attrition.
Out he came, one fist for Vertonghen, the other for Toby Alderweireld. if he got the ball that was a bonus and both men were left on the canvas when the play finally moved upfield.
Alderweireld rose relatively quickly but it was clear
Vertonghen was in trouble. There was a lot of blood, possibly a broken nose and when he was finally ready to continue, he first had to change shirt and shorts for health and safety reasons.
Maheu Lahoz did not seem happy with his reintroduction but what first looked like a little extra mopping up was soon revealed as a more serious concern.
No sooner had play restarted than Vertonghen raised his hand and began walking uncertainly to the touchline.
He bent double and began if not vomiting, then certainly retching. His knees buckled. Visually, he had all the symptoms of concussion. He was helped down the tunnel by two members of Tottenham’s staff, barely able to walk.
How he got permission to continue, even for seconds, who knows? Ironically, this blow had a twofold galvanising effect for Tottenham. The delay cost Ajax their rhythm and brought Moussa Sissoko into the game. He turned out to be by far the most influential and energetic presence in a lacklustre Tottenham midfield.
Not that there was much competition. It is evidence of Spurs’ ineffectuality that their best chances were mainly set pieces.
Fernando Llorente should have done much better with a header from a Trippier free kick, the same could be said of Alderweireld and a delivery by Christian Eriksen.
As so often happens, Tottenham looked better after 15 minutes with Pochettino — although again their chances were largely limited to aerial stuff, mainly an Alli header from a Trippier cross.
It could be argued, given those on the missing list, Tottenham might have taken a narrow defeat and a rematch with Son available. It didn’t feel like a good night, though. It felt like what the Dutch might call a Ruud awakening.