SLOPPY SPURS SENT PACKING
... and Kane’s suitcase is all ready for Manchester plane
IF Harry Kane was watching this, he probably ended it by checking the flight times to Manchester.
As an advert for Tottenham’s future, this Europa Conference League play-off first-leg clash in northern Portugal was a horror show.
An hugely embarrassing defeat for Nuno Espirito Santo’s men, courtesy of Lucas Da Silva De Jesus’ goal (below, celebrating with his team-mates) on the stroke of half-time was surely not in the script.
Nuno’s decision to field a young, inexperienced side came back to bite him. Badly.
There was no Harry, obviously.
But there was also no Heung-Min Son, no Dele Alli, no Hugo Lloris.
No one who started Sunday’s excellent win over Manchester City - when the Spurs fans taunted their wantaway striker by singing, “Are you watching Harry Kane?”. Instead, Spurs had five players making their first starts, including new signings Cristian Romero, Bryan Gil and goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini.
There was one 17-year-old and an 18-year-old.
As City prepare their next move for Kane in the coming days, with the England striker waiting, Spurs stumble on.
They will probably get through this tie, with the home leg at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Thursday when surely some of the bigger guns will be wheeled out.
But this was not exactly an appetiser for a player with Kane’s ambition. A brand new European adventure in a brand new competition, but in Europe’s third tier – in front of only 2,284 spectators? And a defeat?
It was a horribly disjointed display all night from Nuno’s team, with passes going astray all over the place, tackles not won and runs not read. Pacos had the first effort of note when Nuno Santos (not the Spurs manager), found space in the area and tested Gollini with a low drive.
The Portuguese side – two games into their Primeira Liga season and having knocked out Irish side Larne in the previous round of this competition –looked like a team that had played together before.
Unlike Spurs.
And the goal that arrived just before half-time was on the cards. Stephen Eustaqio played Da Silva De Jesus through, with Romero out of position, and the striker finished coolly with a low drive as Gollini advanced.
Pacos, who finished fifth in their domestic league last season, had gained in confidence after a slow start, were determined and pacey – and far more dangerous.
Spurs struggled throughout to find any rhythm in their play or any penetration.
And, dismally, they did not create a chance of note all night.
Admittedly, it was a young team – but players of promise such as Dane Scarlett and Nile John had a tough evening.
The Europa Conference League – Spurs too good for it?
Er, not on this evidence.