Alkass U-17 International Cup 2018

This is the first time that Spurs have taken part in this competition, which is in its seventh year, and as such they did not do very well. There were twelve teams in four groups of three. Spurs found themselves in Group 4 with Paris St. German and Kashiwa – Reysol from Japan (Steve Perryman once managed them), both of whom have been here before with PSG former winners. Matches were 90 minutes long with placement games to follow the groups which seems a little crude. Al Kass is a TV company promoting Qatar football before the World Cup in 2022.

Spurs Squad
Coach – Scott Parker

1. Joshua Oluwayemi(GK)
2. Marqes Muir
3. Luis Binks
4. Dennis Cirkin
5. Maximus Tainio
6. Jamie Bowden
7. Maurizio Pochettino
8. Dilan Markanday
9. Unused
10.Paris Maghoma
11.Nonso Madueke
12.Nile John
13.Kacper Kurylowicz(GK)
14.J'neil Lloyd-Bennett
15.Eddie Carrington-Alberdi
16.Rayan Clarke
17.Harvey White
18.Max Robson
19.Enock Asante
20.Sashon Aird-Munn

Monday 22nd. January – Kashiwa 3 – 2 Spurs

Starting eleven(4-1-4-1):– Oluwayemi; Tainio(Asante 73), White, Binks, Cirkin, Bowden(C), Pochettino(Madueke 79), Markanday, Maghoma, Lloyd-Bennett, Clarke

Scorers;– Markanday 45+1, Lloyd-Bennett 79

Booked:– Asante 71

The opening game saw Spurs' youngsters producing a good footballing display but coming unstuck to a Japanese side happy to defend in numbers and break with pace. Spurs fell behind to a soft penalty given for handball by Binks. With Maghoma hitting the woodwork twice it was not until almost the last kick of the half before Spurs drew level. Markanday scored from a tight angle on the right with the ball deflected in at the near post.

Spurs kept the pressure on in the second half but again fell behind when they conceded on the break. Asante was booked in a substitution farce, coming on for Tainio which saw Spurs playing for two minutes with ten men before he was allowed on. Lloyd-Bennett equalised for Spurs from Markanday's pass and Clarke hit a post as Spurs continued to look for a winner. Once again Kashiwa scored getting behind the Spurs defence to run out winners.

Tuesday 23rd January – Spurs 2 – 4 Paris St. Germain

Starting Eleven(4-1-4-1):– Oluwayemi; Tainio, Bowden(C), Binks, Cirkin(White 60), Maghoma, Markanday, Madueke(Pochettino 66), John(Clarke 46), Lloyd-Bennett, Asante (Robson 79)

Scorer:– Asante 2, 58

Spurs got off to a good start against PSG with Asante latching onto a poor back-pass to score. A minute later he almost got a second when the keeper messed up another back-pass. It was an open game in which PSG gradually got on top restricting Spurs to counter-attacks in the second half. PSG equalised when Spurs failed to clear and went in front converting a good cross from the left. Asante got a second early in the second half from a long ball by Bowden that Markanday laid into his path. PSG quickly got a third and then a fourth to see out the game. This was PSG's first game and they had the advantage of watching Spurs play which you could see by the way they marked Maghoma and Lloyd-Bennett.

Thursday 25th January – Spurs 2 – 0 Guangzhou Evergrande

Starting Eleven(4-1-4-1):– Kurylowicz; Clarke(C)(John 62), Muir, Tainio, Cirkin(Bowden 74), White, Pochettino, Madueke, Robson(Maghoma 79), Carrington-Alberdi(Aird-Munn 46), Asante(Lloyd-Bennett 69)

Scorers:– Robson 5, Asante (pen),52

Booked:– Robson 20

Spurs' last game was the 9th/10th placement game against Guangzhou in which Scott Parker took the opportunity of using the rest of the squad even if they played out of position. The Chinese side were no match for Spurs who took an early lead when Pochettino got down the right to cross for Robson to score inside the far post. Guangzhou defended deep and frustrated the young Spurs players who had chances for Robson and Pochettino with Asante close a couple of times. Asante won and scored from the penalty spot to double the lead before Spurs rang the changes making four subtitutions to see out the game. In truth Guangzhou were nowhere need the quality of Kashiwa or PSG so Spurs were not tested.

Ray

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