Champions Youth League, Group B, Game 5
          Hotspur Way, Whitewebbs Lane, Enfield
            Wednesday 28th November 2018, 1pm

Tottenham Hotspur 2(2) – 4(1) FC Internazionale Milano

Spurs(4-2-3-1):– Austin(C); Hinds, Eyoma, Binks(Dennis 84), Brown; Bowden(Oakley-Boothe 54), White; Markanday, Roles(Richards 75), Maghoma(Shashoua 84); Parrott.

Unused Subs:- De Bie; Clarke, Pochettino

Scorers:– Parrott 23, Roles 25

Booked:– Eyoma 28(Foul), Markanday 52(Trip), Brown 80(Foul)

Inter(4-2-3-1):– Dekic; Zappa, Corrado, Nolan(C), Pompetti(Demirovic65), Rizzo, Roric(Merola 75), Salcedo(Mulattieri 46), Persyn, Colidio(Grassini 90+2), Schiro

Unused Subs:- Stankovic, Adorante, Ntube

Scorers:– Persyn 11, Roric 62, Merola 82, Colidio 87

Booked:– Rizzo 30(Foul), Schiro 34(Foul)

Referee:– Alex Troleis(FRO) (Faroe Islands)
Assistants:– Johnleif Geroisa & Jon Marni Johannesen(FRO)
Fourth Official:– John Brooks(ENG)

It was a damp afternoon with rain showers for the visit of the Italians from Milan who were bottom of the group. Spurs drew in Milan in a game that saw both sides reduced to ten. In the unlikely event of PSV beating Barcelona a draw would see Spurs through to the play-off stage of the League.

Spurs lined up with Austin in goal behind Eyoma and Binks with Hinds at right back and Brown on the left. Bowden and White anchored the midfield with Markanday, Maghoma and Roles ahead of them in support of Parrott up front.

Spurs kicked off the first half attacking the East end in an even half. Inter had a cross from the right go through the six yard box before Schiro fired over from a Persyn cross. Markanday drew the first save before playing Parrott in to drive wide.

Inter got the ball upfield quickly from the goal kick with Colidio getting past Eyoma to square for Persyn to score at the far post. In response Markanday fired wide and as they increased pressure Parrott played in Maghoma but his effort was blocked. The pressure finally told when Bowden won the ball in the middle and played it forward to Roles who slipped in Parrott to curl his effort into the far corner.

Brown, who had been getting forward on the left, was played in to advance and shoot. Dekic saved his effort but could not prevent Roles putting in the loose ball to allow Spurs to go in front. Colidio fired wide before Eyoma was booked for pulling him back on another attack.

Austin saved from Roric at the expense of a corner after which Rizzo was booked for fouling Binks. Markanday played in Maghoma for a chance that was saved and Parrott also saw his effort saved when played in by Roles. Brown had a goal ruled out for offside before firing wide when played in by Bowden. As the half ended Hinds got down the right to play in Markanday to draw a save.

Inter made a change for the start of the second half but they could not stop Spurs from getting on top. Maghoma drew a save when played in by Roles before Mulattieri fired wide from a corner. Markanday blotted his fine performance by getting booked after he lost the ball and fouled Colidio.

With Spurs pushing Milan back they took off Bowden for Oakley-Boothe who went to left back as Brown was pushed forward. Roles played in Markanday to draw a save before Inter got an equaliser. They won a corner when Oakley-Boothe was caught out and when it was not cleared, Corrado played it in and the other full back Zappa laid it off to Roric to score.

Colidio drew a save before Markanday played in Parrott at the other end to also draw a save. Spurs took off Maghoma for Shashoua to press the midfield more. Parrott hit a post from a Markanday pass while Schiro fired over. Brown was booked for tangling with Persyn on the left of the Milan area before they made a break down the right with Merola converting the ball in to put Milan back in front.

Spurs made a double change to try and regain control with Cirkin replacing Binks at the back and Richards on for Roles up front. As Spurs pushed forward more they left space at the back for Inter to counter. Colidio fired wide before he increased their lead, scoring from a through ball by Rizzo. Markanday played in Parrott to win a corner as the game went into added time but Spurs could not pull it back.

The first half was fairly even with Spurs pressing up front while Inter looked for breaks before the half finished with Spurs on the front foot. Spurs took control in the second half pushing Inter back but not taking the chances offered. The turning point came when Spurs looked to increase their attacking options which opened up their defence which Inter punished. Markanday was devastating on the right and I would have liked to see him shoot more often when he had the chance instead of playing in others as he can shoot. The game in Barcelona now takes on more importance as a point may not be enough. The last time Spurs played in the miniestadi was in 2012 when Shaquile Coulthirst scored a perfect hattrick in a 4-1 win in the NextGen Series which UEFA copied for the Champions Youth League.

             P  W  D  L  F-A  Pts
Barcelona    5  3  2  0  8-4  11
Tottenham    5  1  3  1  8-8   6
Eindhoven    5  1  2  1  6-8   5
Inter Milan  5  1  1  3  7-9   4

Ray

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