Jose backs Eriksen exit
tottenHAM enjoyed a 2-1 FA Cup win at home to Middlesbrough last night, with Argentines Giovani lo Celso and erik lamela scoring the goals. inter Milan target Christian eriksen was booed, but boss Jose Mourinho said: ‘He can leave with his head up.’ league one side shrewsbury set up a tie against liverpool with a dramatic late winner against Bristol City.
Two months after the sacking of mauricio Pochettino, the Argentines are back in business at white hart Lane.
trust the FA Cup to stir the passions of Giovani Lo Celso and Erik Lamela, who supplied the goals to squeeze spurs beyond middlesbrough and secure a date at southampton in the fourth round a week on saturday.
Argentina has been woven into the folklore in these parts since Chas n Dave penned their anthem to the trembly knees of ossie Ardiles and Ricky Villa dribbled his way to one of wembley’s iconic goals in 1981.
Lo Celso’s opening goal last night was a gift from Boro goalkeeper tomas mejias within two minutes of the kick- off and, although neatly converted, it is unlikely to be immortalised in song.
Lamela’s stylish solo effort, however, came with echoes of Villa — turning and gliding forward before a clinical finish.
‘Ardiles and Villa would not be ashamed of them,’ said Jose mourinho (right). ‘we played very well. Lamela was out for so long, coming back step by step, but he’s coming on.
‘Gio the same, step by step, very good against Liverpool and again here, adapting to the intensity of English football.’
Lo Celso struck early when he anticipated a pass by mejias intended for marvin Johnson, nipped in ahead of the wing back, jinked inside and curled a low finish into the corner.
with one minute and 55 seconds on the clock, it is the fastest goal scored at the new tottenham stadium and it put mourinho’s team in control. An attacking unit led by Lucas moura with Lo Celso, Lamela and Christian Eriksen in support was proving too quick and mobile for middlesbrough’s patched-up defence.
spurs passed and moved, slicing open the visitors and creating chances.
Lamela swiftly gave them a degree of comfort with a fine individual goal, dashing through the red shirts, accelerating into the penalty area and around Dael Fry before sliding the ball past mejias for the second time.
It was his first goal since a 5-0 romp against Red star Belgrade in october and spurs were now well on top and searching for more goals. Lamela flashed another effort over within minutes. mejias denied Ryan sessegnon with an excellent save and Japhet tanganga roared forward from right back, then fizzed another drive narrowly wide. moura and Lamela produced a slick combination on the break only for the Brazilian to shoot wide and tottenham threatened a runaway victory. middlesbrough were finding it impossible to resist at the back and yet proved capable of causing tottenham problems when they went forward. Lukas nmecha forced Paulo Gazzaniga into a good save when the score was 1-0 and two minutes before half-time, with the score at 2-0, Ashley Fletcher beat Eric Dier in the air at a free-kick only to miss the target and head wide at the near post. mourinho’s team remain fragile at the back. they also lost their sense of urgency and faded in the second half here. Perhaps they lapsed into thinking the job was done, while their visitors improved and grew in confidence on the ball.
Gazzaniga made another strong save, this time to keep out a free-kick from Lewis wing, and George saville made an impact when he came off the bench.
saville went close with a deflected effort from distance which swerved and dipped just over. And then he pulled a goal back for Boro when he drilled a low drive past Gazzaniga from the edge of the penalty area.
It was something for the 3,500 away fans to cheer and some sort of consolation for manager Jonathan woodgate as his team were beaten for the first time in seven outings.
saville’s goal was enough to ensure a fraught final seven minutes for mourinho, who had been concerned enough to send on forward pair son heung-min and Dele Alli in the hope of killing off the tie.
spurs survived the late pressure and the direct approach from Boro once Rudy Gestede had been introduced. A third goal eluded the home team but two proved enough to survive in the FA Cup.
they have much invested in this competition, having hired mourinho to replace Pochettino because of his reputation for winning silverware.
spurs are in the midst of their longest post-war trophy drought, their form is inconsistent and southampton is a tough draw — but they are still alive thanks to their Argentines. TOTTENHAM (4-2-3-1): Gazzaniga 7; Tanganga 6.5, Sanchez 6, Vertonghen 6, Sessegnon 6.5; Dier 6 (Alli 86min), Winks 6.5; Lo Celso 7, Eriksen 7, LAMELA 7.5; Moura 7 (Son 61, 6).
Subs not used: Vorm, Cirkin, Aurier,
Skipp, Foyth. Scorers: Lo Celso 2, Lamela 15. Manager: Jose Mourinho 6.5. MIDDLESBROUGH (3-5-2): Mejias 5; Howson 6, McNair 6, Fry 6; Johnson 6, Liddle 6 (Saville 58, 7), Clayton 6, Wing 6.5, Spence 6 (Tavernier 74, 6.5); Fletcher 6, Nmecha 6 (Gestede 78). Subs not used: Brynn, Roberts, Wood, Malley. Scorer: Saville 83. Manager: Jonathan Woodgate 6. Referee: Craig Pawson 6. Attendance: 49,202.