54th International U-19 Champions Trophy 2016
                    Monday 28th March 2016
            Stadion an der Robstrasse, Dusseldorf

10.30am

Tottenham Hotspur 0 – 1 Red Bull Saltzburg

Starting Eleven(4-2-3-1):– Glover; Mukena(Tracey 42), Maghoma, Walkes, Muscatt; Stylianides, Marsh; Duncan(Oteh 26), Goddard(C)(Roles 26) Bennetts(Dinzeyi 46); Sterling

Unused Subs:- McDermott; Tsaroulla, Loft, Georgiou

Booked:– Marsh 44

Saltzburg:– Zynel, Switil, Dos Santos de Paulo, Mayor, Gugganig, Raischl, Gorzel, Hodl, Berisha, Wolf(Schopf 42), Filip(Halper 48)

Unused Subs:- Jovic, Pajaczkowski, Ettl, Kappacher

Scorer:– Berisha 4

Spurs took on Red Bull Saltzburg, the winners of Group A, in the first semi-final on the final day of the tournament. Spurs lined up with Glover in goal behind Maghoma and Walkes with Mukena at right back and Muscatt on the left. Marsh anchored the midfield with Stylianides while Goddard ahead of them was flanked by Duncan on the right and Bennetts on the left in support of Sterling up front.

Spurs kicked off attacking the East end in what was an end to end contest as both sides looked to get forward quickly. Following a corner, Spurs failed to clear their lines which allowed Berisha to fire home in a crowded area. There were not many chances as the game was played mainly in the middle but Hodl hit a first time effort on the turn that was wide.

Spurs won a free kick on the right which Bennetts took hitting it well wide. Filip played in Wolf for a chance that was wide towards the half-time break.

Spurs made a double change for the second half with Roles replacing Goddard in midfield and Oteh coming on for Duncan on the left with Bennetts moving to the right.

Raischl headed wide from a free kick before Spurs made their third change with Tracey replacing Mukena. Marsh was booked for a foul as he challenged Berisha which saw the Saltzburg player draw a save from the free kick.

Spurs' last change was Dinzeyi replacing Bennetts going up front with Sterling moving to the right. An attack down the right saw Zynel saving at his near post from Tracey. Red Bull saw out the rest of the game to qualify for the final. In the other semi-final Besiktas beat Japan High School Select to meet the Austrians in the final and set up a rematch between Spurs and the janpanese side.

2.50pm

Tottenham Hotspur 0 – 2 Japan High School Selection

Spurs(4-2-3-1):– McDermott; Mukena , Maghoma, Dinzeyi, Tsaroulla; Walkes, Roles; Tracey(Stylianides 41), Goddard(Duncan 33), Bennetts(Marsh 41); Oteh(Sterling 31)

Unused Subs:– Glover; Muscatt, Loft, Georgiou

Booked:– Tsaroulla 46

Japan HS:– Sakaguchi, Hoshi, Koya, Sugioka, Shiral, Fujikawa, Nakamura, Hatate, Onoue, Torikal(Makino 26), Yamura(Issaka 26)

Unused subs:- Wakino, Fukuchi, Kuwasaki, Tabinas, Miyahara

Scorers:– Hatate 26, o.g. Maghoma 36

Spurs took on the Japan High School Selection in the 3rd/4th place play-off match which was a repeat of the group match the day before. Spurs lined up with McDermott in goal behind Maghoma and Dinzeyi with Mukena at right back and Tsaroulla on the left. Walkes moved into midfield as the anchor with Roles alongside him. Goddard started ahead of them with Tracey on his right and Bennetts on his left in support of Oteh up front.

The match was a repeat of the first as the Japanese were quick out of the blocks but Spurs looked set up to cope and had the first chance when Roles had his effort blocked with Walkes following up to hit the rebound wide. Nakamura hit a free kick over before McDermott saved from Sugioka. Spurs almost scored when Mukena back-heeled a ball from the left at the far post which was cleared off the line by Fujikawa on the left post. McDermott saved from Yamura towards the end of the half.

The Japan side made two changes for the second half which saw them score in the opening minute as the effort by Hatate was deflected past McDermott. Spurs responded with an effort by Bennetts that was saved for a corner from which Oteh fired over. Walkes played in Oteh for a shot that flew over the bar.

Spurs made their first change with Oteh being replaced by Sterling. McDermott saved from Fujikawa before Spurs made their second change sending on Duncan for Goddard. Spurs went further behind when Nakamura fired in from the left and it deflected in off Maghoma.

Makino collected a clearance and drew a save from McDermott before Spurs made a double change with Marsh replacing Bennetts and Stylianides coming on for Tracey. Makino fired wide before Sterling played in Walkes for a chance that Sakaguchi saved at the expense of a corner. Tsaroulla was booked when making a block as the Japanese played out time to finish third.

A fourth place finish was not a bad result for Spurs as most of the players were not used to this type of football. It was not the skill level but the intensity of the play that did for them. They wanted too much time to play their passing game when it was more about stopping football from being played and taking whatever chances came your way. Spurs have two more tournaments to play before the end of the season. These will be the Next Gen Amsterdam Cup and the Terborg Tournament, which are both in the Netherlands in May. Next season of course they will play in the UEFA Youth League so these tournaments will be a good learning experience for the players.

Ray

· Under 19 Champions Trophy Day One, 26.03.16
· Under 19 Champions Trophy Day Two, 27.03.16

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