UEFA Youth League, Group E, 4th Round, 2016-17
              Hotspur Way, Bulls Cross, Enfield
              Wednesday 2nd November 2016, 5pm

                SPURS     v     BAYER LEVErKUSEN
             (White/Blue)         (All Black)
               4-2-3-1             4-2-3-1

                 2(1)                1(0)

Spurs Team:– Austin; Eyoma(Brown 82), Tanganga, Walkes(C), Walker-Peters; Skipp, Oakley-Boothe(Sterling 73); Shashoua, Duncan(Roles 87), Bennetts; Harrison

Unused Subs:- Whiteman; Dinzeyi; Tracey, Stylianides

Scorers:– Boeder(o.g) 34, Harrison 55

Booked:– Eyoma 6(Foul), Harrison 68(Dive), Bennetts 90+2(Holding)

Coach:– J. McDermott

Leverkusen Team:– Kucz: Shala, Nesseler(C), Boeder, Handwerker; Rhein, Akkaynak; Harenbrock(Hanna 45+1), Schreck(Mbay 57), Bednarcyzk(Osawe 71); Yalcin

Scorer:– Rhein 90+4

Booked:– Handwerker 29(Holding), Akkaynak 80(Dissent)

Sent Off:– Boeder 44(Last Man)

Coach – M. Von Ahlen

Referee:– N. Doyle
Assistants:– A. Lynch & D. Broughton
Fourth Official:- J. Busby

It was a cool evening under the floodlights at Hotspur Way for the second home game of this European league u-19s' competition. Spurs have lost all three previous games including the away game against this evening's visitors, going down 3-1. Spurs come into the game following a good victory for the U-18 academy players in the squad, having beaten Brighton 4-0 on Saturday. The players with the U-23 also had a draw on Friday against Manchester United. Leverkusen lost their unbeaten run last week to Dortmund 4-2. Because the start of the match was moved for television I was only able to watch the first half and had to view the TV recording of the game to complete this report. It did help to clear up some points.

Spurs lined up with Austin making his first start in goal behind Tanganga and Walkes with Eyoma at right back and Walker-Peters switching to left back. Skipp anchored the midfield with Oakley-Boothe alongside him. Duncan, making his first start, was ahead of them flanked by Shashoua on the right and Bennetts on the left in support of Harrison up front.

Spurs defended the West end in the first half which saw an early chance for the visitors when a Rhein free kick found Yalcin who drew a save from Austin. Bennetts worked the left flank and crossed for Harrison to head over. Eyoma picked up a booking for a heavy challenge on Handwerker. The game became end to end as both sides went looking for an opening goal. Duncan drew a save from Kucz and Harrison also tested the keeper while Oakley-Boothe hit the ball over at the far post from a corner.

Yalcin fired wide from a cross by Handwerker hitting the back stanchion. The striker did better winning a corner from Austin's near post save. The corner was played back to Handwerker who hit a fierce drive that was saved by Austin at the expense of another corner. Handwerker was then booked for trying to stop Oakley-Boothe getting away.

Bennetts drew a save from the keeper as Spurs were beginning to get the better of the play. Spurs scored from a Shashoua corner which found Walkes at the far post and his cross was turned in by Boeder. Skipp slipped in Harrison but Kucz was out quick to save for a corner. The corner produced another chance for Harrison but his header was saved by the keeper for another corner that came out to Skipp who fired wide. Bennetts crossed for Duncan to force a save from the keeper.

Walkes' long ball beat Boeder who brought down Harrison to stop him getting through which resulted in him being shown the red card as the last defender. From the free kick Harrison saw Kucz make a great save at his near post. Leverkusen sacrificed a midfielder for a defender bringing on Hanna who proved an uncompromising defender clearing a corner at the far post before the break.

With a one player advantage Spurs began strongly with Hanna fouling Walkes on the right. Harrison took the kick drawing another save from Kucz. Harrison finally got his reward after a quick throw-in to Shashoua who crossed for the striker to score.

After the second goal Leverkusen threw on a second striker and Yalcin won a corner when his effort was blocked. Shashoua played in Bennetts for a chance that was saved. Kucz saved from Oakley-Boothe and when Harrison went for the rebound he was tripped by Hanna. The referee decided he went down too easily and booked him instead of awarding a penalty.

Kucz saved a free kick by Shashoua before Spurs made their first change replacing Oakley-Boothe with Sterling, who led the line with Harrison dropping into midfield. Shala fired wide before Sterling ran onto Walker-Peters' through ball to net but the goal was ruled out for offside. The TV replay suggested that it was a good goal.

Spurs were now on top and won a penalty when Handwerker fouled Duncan as he got into the area. Harrison stepped up and instead of going for a corner hit it up and over the bar. This was another chance wasted which could have improved Spurs' goal difference. When Duncan was fouled by Hanna it was Akkaynak who was booked by the referee for talking back to him. The visitors were still a threat on the break with Osawe firing wide.

Spurs' second change of the game saw Eyoma replaced by Brown. Brown is a left back and went to the left with Walker-Peters moving to the right. A centre from Mbay on the right was touched on for Yalcin at the far post but Walker-Peters was there to block. Duncan, who had not recovered from the earlier foul on him, was replaced by Roles who had a hand in the next chance for Spurs when he played in Sterling from a pass by Skipp. Kucz saved from Sterling. The ball was not cleared and Shashoua played in Sterling again to draw a save from the keeper. Bennetts was then booked for trying to stop a break by pulling the player back. Deep into added time a long ball out to Handwerker was crossed for Rhein to score a consolation goal for the visitors.

This was a good confidence boost for Spurs which hopefully they can take into their next domestic games. This was Spurs' first win in this competition but they are still bottom of the group. It does throw them a lifeline. Monaco lost to CSKA 5-0 to remain on six points and are Spurs next opponents in Monaco on the 22nd November. The win more or less secures CSKA's place in the next round. Spurs need to win both remaining matches to have a chance to progress. If they beat Monaco and Leverkusen beats CSKA then it would be all to play for in the final round of matches. In that case no doubt BT will move the kick off of the match for TV so that I will not be able to see the whole game again.

Ray

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