EUROPA LEAGUE GROUP C
THURSDAY 6TH NOVEMBER, 2014
MATCHDAY 4
(6pm GMT)
ASTERAS TRIPOLIS 1(0) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2(2)
Asteras scorer:-
Baralles, 90 (pen)
Spurs scorers:-
Townsend, 36 (pen)
Kane, 42
Attendance:- 6,500
Referee:- Javier Estrada
Assistants:- Jose Miranda & Javier Rodgriguez
Additional assistants:- Fernando Teixeira & Eduardo Prieto Iglesias
Fourth official:- Angel Nevado Rodriguez (All officials from Spain)
Teams:-
Asteras (4-2-3-1):- Kosicky; Lluy, Sankare, Zisopoulos, Panteliadis; Usero ( Capt.), Munafo (sub Gianniotas, 81); Mazza, Rolle, Tsokanis (sub Badibanga, 60); Parra (sub Barrales, 84)
Subs not used:- Theodoropoulos; Fernandez, Bakasetas, Kyriakopoulos
Booked:- Sankare (penalty foul on Townsend)
Spurs (4-2-3-1):- Vorm; Dier, Fazio, Vertonghen (Capt.), Davies; Stambouli, Dembele; Townsend, Eriksen (sub Mason, 63), Lamela (Soldado, 46); Kane (sub Paulinho, 77)
Subs not used:- McGee (number 48 - GK); Rose, Chiriches; Chadli
Booked:- Mason (foul)
Sent off:- Fazio (89- penalty foul on Barrales, preventing goal scoring opportunity)
They're two of our own!
Two of Spurs' home grown players, Andros Townsend and Harry Kane, gave us the first half goals which proved enough to give Spurs the win, and to maintain their position level with Besiktas at the top of Group C.
Quite how that happened is beyond most observers, as Asteras could, maybe should, have scored five or six goals in the second half. The home side surged upon the Spurs goal with passion and incisiveness, but, luckily for Spurs, lots of inaccuracy.
Spurs had 69% of the possession, but, as we all know, it's what you do with that possession that counts.
As in the previous game at White Hart Lane, both sides were strong. Mauricio Pochettino had left Adebayor, Kaboul and Lennon at home, suggesting that Adebayor will start on Sunday at home to Stoke. Hugo Lloris was suspended, so Michel Vorm played, with another home-grown player, Luke McGee making his very first appearance in the senior squad, as substitute goalkeeper. Surely a mistake was made when Brad Friedel was not registered for the Europa League?
Spurs played towards their fans in the first half. Those fans may have numbered some 200. Their numbers were boosted by The Hellenic Spurs, who I was pleased to meet, as usual. There were also other Greek fans present, with a young family near us. We were all prevented from encroaching upon the pitch by a tall wire fence, re-inforced by razor wire. They might need that for their next Europa League guests - Besiktas!
Spurs started brightly, with a dangerous Ben Davies cross nearly leading to an own goal, and goalkeeper Kosicky fumbling a Townsend cross, but recovering his composure,and the ball.
A long ball to Mazza was intercepted and put out for a corner by captain for the night, Jan Vertonghen. Back in the Asteras penalty area, Lamela teed up Davies with a clever back-heel, and Davies went down, but no penalty was given. No card was given either to the Spurs player. The challenge upon Davies might have been just as strong, or weak, as that by Fazio which was punished late in the game.
Harry Kane took advantage of a loose ball from Asteras in their own half, and fed it to Lamela, on his left. Lamela's shot was on target but held by the keeper.
Lamela's next chance ended with a scooped shot that was lifted way over the razor wire and held by a Spurs fan. Mazza had a chance for Asteras when the ball was crossed from the right, but he hit a glancing shot wide across Vorm's goal.
Eriksen got into the opposition box, but the defence cleared before the midfielder could fire a shot. Then, after 35 minutes, Andros Townsend took the ball inside the left side of the Asteras area, where he was brought down by Sankare, who also got a yellow card.
Townsend took responsibility for the kick, and beat the goalkeeper diving to his left, with a well struck left footed shot. Minutes later, Andros was the provider, in some style too, as he again got down the left and stood up a lovely cross, met well by Harry Kane, who rose to head home for his tenth goal in all games so far this season. He punched the air in front of him, in personal celebration.
Kane had the ball in the net again, following Dier's cross, but he was offside.
Lamela was replaced by Soldado at half time, suggesting that he also will start on Sunday. Dembele had an early chance for Spurs, but fired wide across the goal.
The first of Asteras's second half chances fell to Rolle, who pushed his left foot shot wide from outside the area.
Eriksen had a shot held by Kosicky, after Dembele's pass, and Townsend also hit a left foot shot wide from outside the area.
Parra got round Vertonghen on the right of the Spurs box, but hit his right footed shot wide of the far post. Next, after a good run through the midfield by Usero, Parra had the goal at his mercy, but fired over. The striker got very angry with himself and slapped the ground!
Badibanga replaced Tsokanis, and was to have a few chances himself. Townsend and Kane combined for another chance on goal, but Kane's shot was saved by Kosicky.
Mazza again got the better of the Spurs defence, and managed a shot on target, but this one was comfortable for Vorm. Eriksen also got an early rest, replaced by Mason, but perhaps Pochettino's substitutions should have focussed upon defensive matters, because Stambouli looked invisible in front of the defence, who were left badly exposed, too often.
Mazza got too much space outside Dier, and this time, his shot beat Vorm, but rebounded well clear off the far post. Spurs could have been 4-2 down by now! It's goals that count though!
Spurs did manage a constructive move forward after 73 minutes, and Soldado exchanged with Kane, before hitting a right foot shot wide of the keeper's right post. Kane was then replaced by Paulinho, who sadly had no effect on the game.
After 83 minutes and a free kick by Asteras, Zisopoulos hit a great low shot, but equally, Vorm made a great save. Badibanga, sporting plenty of hair, had a somewhat involuntary strike on goal from the back post after a cross from the left, but Vorm made a genuinely great reaction save, diving low to his left.
Then came controversy when Fazio was behind Barrales, as he advanced upon the Spurs goal. There was contact, and Barrales went down. The referee didn't seem to be giving anything, but I believe he was prompted by the assistant on the goal-line. The penalty was given, and Fazio got his second red card of the season.
Barrales converted the kick, although Vorm went the right way. The ball had been struck hard and passed under Vorm's body.
In 4 minutes of added time, Badibanga headed into the side netting, but Spurs otherwise saw out the game.
A win at home against Partizan Belgrade will see us through to the Round of 32, but there could be all to play for in Istanbul in December, as to finish top of the group would be advantageous.
Asteras still also have an interest. They need to win their remaining games. They are a good team and perfectly capable of beating Besiktas, which would help Spurs.
Spurs will need to play better to succeed in this competition in the New Year, assuming qualification is achieved.
The Spurs Odyssey flag flew high in the stadium, and I've had a great trip with good friends, and plenty of familiar faces on my travels. It's goals that count, and it was a good result!
Europa League Group C
P W D L F-A GD PTS
Spurs 4 2 2 0 8-3 5 8
Besiktas 4 2 2 0 8-3 5 8
Asteras Tripolis 4 1 1 2 5-8 -3 4
Partizan 4 0 1 3 1-8 -7 1
