POCH SHOT AT TOP FOUR
Hero Christian has sights on Europe
MAURICIO POCHETTINO’S players have made a habit of finding the net from distance this season.
Whether it has been Harry Kane striking home with one of his accurate range-finders or Erik Lamela with a rabona – a succession of opponents have been left counting the cost.
It has been closer to goal that Pochettino’s problems have manifested themselves. But that’s another story.
Here, it was left to Christian Eriksen to ruin Jermain Defoe’s ‘homecoming’ with the Black Cats. And yes, it was Eriksen late on again.
For the third time this season the former Ajax playmaker provided the match-winner in the dying stage as he grabbed his eighth goal of an increasingly-impressive season.
It overshadowed anything that Defoe could produce – although the Wearsiders’ forward did have a hand in an equaliser that looked like it would earn Gus Poyet’s side a point.
However, Sunderland let their defences down in catastrophic fashion and Eriksen – with a valuable assist from Andros Townsend – made them pay. The Black Cats had lost their shape chasing upfield and Townsend sprinted half the length of the pitch before pulling the ball across the penalty box. You know the rest.t
Slowly it seems that a man who o for so long was considered one player with true potential is fulfilling it.. Eight goals in little more than half-a-season season is a good return.
Pochettino said: “Christian hasas big, big potential. Obviously, I’m m very happy for him. His contributiontion is clear. He’s a very good guy. A good professional. A great player.”
Sprawling
Well, perhaps that’s over-stating tating the case. Spurs enjoyed plenty of f shots on goal – 25 to be precise – but it looked for all the world like their eir afternoon would end in n frustration.
It had got off to a good start rt inside three minutes, mind you.u. Santiago Vergini made a total l hash of a clearance from an n Eriksen cross.
Jan Vertonghen showed a deftt touch to outfox Seb Larsson onn the edge of the area and his shotot deflected off John O’Shea to beateat Costel Pantilimon.
Sunderland hit back just after er the half-hour. Vertonghen sent Defoe sprawling 30 yards from Hugo Lloris’s goal. Larsson, who scored a 35-yard5-yard screamer for Birmingham City seven years ago, showed how much hee liked White Hart Lane by curling homeome a beauty from the free- kick. Spurs
h
poured forwa forward. Pantilimon was forced into two stops of real quality – bothb from Eriksen – either side of the equaliser.
But as the clock wore down, the Wearsiders let their guard down and Spurs’ match-winner this time fo forced a way past Sunderland.
Stranded
Poyet managed a smile through the pain. He said: “When the winn winning goal is so late, it hurts. But that’s part of football. You need to be good for 90 minutes, not 88 or 89.
“For a new formation and a new way of playing at White Hart LaneL we were doing all right. So, th that’s
. disappointing.” Reference should also be made to the late ‘goal’ scored when Pantilimon was left stranded as he contested a late Sunderland corner. Spurs broke and Vertonghen, sensing an easy goal, raced forward, slotting into an empty net.
Unfortunately for him, the match officials deemed it offside – although replays showed Vertonghen was inside his own half when the final pass was made.
Pochettino said: “The officials were confused about the late ‘goal’ because it should have stood. He had the celebration of a striker, didn’t he?”
The Tottenham manager could afford to grin. Poyet, on the other hand, had to bear it. By rights, the Dane should have found the net before his late winner. That he didn’t was down to Sunderland keeper Pantilimon Spurs are definitely a great goal-scorer shy of being a real top team. And whatever he does, it looks like this boy isn’t the answer