UEFA Youth League, Group E, Game 6
        Hotspur Way, Bulls Cross, Enfield
        Wednesday 7th December 2016, 2pm

           SPURS     v   CSKA MOSCOW
       (White/Blue)    (All Lime Green)
          4-1-4-1          4-2-3-1

            0(0)             0(0) 

Spurs:– De Bie; Eyoma, Marsh(C), Tanganga, Walker-Peters; Skipp; Shashoua(Stylianides 85), Harrison, Duncan, Bennetts; Sterling

Unused Subs:– Austin; Hinds, Dinzeyi; Reynolds; Griffiths, Roles

Booked:- Duncan 26(Foul), Walker-Peters 78(Pull)

Coach:– N. Gibbs

CSKA:– Kyrmats; Khosonov,Stanisavlevich, Alibekov, Maklakov; Leonov(Anisimov 46), Kuchaev(C); Oleynikov, Tiknizyan(Avanesyan 63), Pukhov(Neplyuev 46); Zhamaletdinov

Unused Subs:– Ovchinnikov, Kabakhidze

Booked:– Khosonov 11(Late)

Coach:– A. Grishin

Attendance:- 147

Refeee:– T. Marshall
Assistants:– R. Kelsey & A. Nethery
Fourth Official:– J. Busby

It was a cool afternoon at Hotspur Way for the visit of CSKA Moscow who have already won the group while the home side had only pride to play for. The Russians won the away match 3-2 thanks to a last minute winner after Spurs had come back thanks to a brace from Griffiths. The russians had a short bench as some of their players had been promoted to the first team squad for the game at Wembley.

Spurs lined up with De Bie in goal behind Marsh and Tanganga with Eyoma at right back and Walker-Peters on the left. Skipp anchored the midfield behind Harrison and Duncan who were flanked by Shashoua on the right and Bennetts on the left in support of Sterling up front.

Spurs defended the West end in the first half which was played in a fairly open manner as there was nothing to play for. De Bie had an early save to make from a weak effort by Khosonov before having to face a penalty. The penalty was awarded to the visitors when Marsh blocked the run into the area by Pukhov who stepped up to take the kick. De Bie guessed right, diving to his left to save.

Spurs began to settle and moved the ball quickly with Eyoma crossing for Sterling to head over. Pukhov was booked for a late challenge on Shashoua as the Russians were pushed back. Shashoua passed inside for Duncan to fire wide of the far post. Duncan was booked for a foul on Alibekov as Spurs were working the ball on the edge of the Moscow area. Oleynikov fired over from a half-cleared corner before Tanganga headed wide from a Spurs corner taken by Bennetts. Duncan drew a save and Bennetts' follow-up was blocked. When the ball was worked to the left, Walker-Peters' cross was met by Sterling's head but Kyrmats saved at the far post at the expense of a corner. Moscow broke forward, and De Bie had to save from Kuchaev. In the last minute of the half Khosonov played in Maklakov for a shot into the side netting.

The visitors made two changes for the start of the second half which saw Spurs looking for a goal and the Russians happy to defend waiting for an opening. Early in the half Skipp gave the ball away allowing Kuchaev to play in Tiknizyan to fire wide. Bennetts crossed for Shashoua to draw a save before Sterling was ruled offside when he netted from a through ball by Duncan. This was a close decision by the assistant.

Bennetts was proving to be a thorn in the visitors' side who reacted by fouling him repeatedly before he got into dangerous areas. Asinimov had an effort blocked before Walker-Peters played in Harrison for a strike that was pushed over for a corner. Walker-Peters went into the ref's book for a pull on Oleynikov before Bennetts crossed for Sterling to turn wide.

Spurs made their only change with five minutes left replacing Shashoua with Stylianides to see out the game. Sterling played in Duncan for a chance that was saved before the striker was fouled on the edge of the area in the last minute. Harrison took the free kick and curled it over the wall hitting the crossbar. I thought it had gone in under the bar but it went over running along the netting and down the back. That was the last chance of the game with three minutes of added time.

Spurs were the better of the two teams over the ninety minutes but we saw flashes of play from the visitors who might have done more if there were points at stake. Most of the good play was down the flanks from Bennetts, Shashoua and Walker-Peters. Bennetts in particular drew close attention from the Moscow defenders to combat his runs. Having said that the visitors did have a penalty.

Spurs will be sending a U-19 squad to Florida to complete in the IMG Cup next week. This will be the fourth time they have completed in the tournament having reached the final every time winning once.

Ray

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