Champions Youth League, Group B, Match 3.
      Sportcomplex De Herdgang, Eindhoven
       Wednesday 24th October 2018, 2pm

      PSV EINDHOVEN   V   TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
       (Red/ White)          (All Blue)
         4-2-3-1               4-2-3-1

           2(2)                 2(0)

PSV:– Van Dorp; Zeegers, Daverveld, Obispo, Vos(Kuisch 67), Oostenbrink, Piroe, Sadilek(C)(Kjele 7), Vertessen(Sidibe 59), Ihattaren, Thomas.

Unused Subs:– Delanghe, Kuisch, Mendonca, Van Den Berg, Horvath

Scorers:– Piroe 15, Ihattaren 42

Booked:– Vos 9(Foul), Thomas 52(KBA)

Coach:– Rutgerus Van Nistelrooij (better known as Ruud Van Nistelrooy of Man Utd fame)

Spurs:– Austin(C); Hinds(Maghoma 46), Brown, Bowden, Eyoma; Binks(White 89), Bennett; Parrott, Roles(Richards 68), Markanday, Skipp.

Unused Subs:– Oluwayemi; Oakley-Boothe, Shashoua, Patterson

Scorers:– Maghoma 73, Brown 90+4

Booked:– Roles 45+2(UGC)

Coach:– Matt Wells

Referee:– Glenn Nyberg(SWE)
Assistants:– Mikael Hallin & Mahbod Beigi(SWE)
Fourth Official:– Allard Lindhout(NED)

Spurs travelled to Eindhoven needing a win to move them up the table in search of qualifying for the next stage. Eindhoven started a point better than Spurs in second place having beaten Inter in the last match. Spurs had two draws so were unbeaten having held leaders Barcelona in their last match. I have been to De Herdgang before when Spurs played in the NextGen Series (UEFA based this competition upon that predecessor) and Spurs came away with a 2-1 victory. The ground has been developed a fair bit since then with seating on two other sides(not used for this game), new floodlights which interfered with the view and high pressure hoses to water the pitch. There was also a new block being built next to the stand which affected entry of the team coach.

Spurs lined up with Austin in goal behind Eyoma and Binks with Hinds at right back and Brown on the left as Spurs reverted to four at the back. Skipp was back in the side alongside Bowden as cover for the defence. Roles was flanked by Markanday on the right and Bennett on the left in support of Parrott up front.

Spurs kicked off attacking the North end in the first half and Bowden quickly had an effort over the bar as Spurs pushed forward. The Eindhoven skipper was injured blocking a drive by Skipp having to be replaced early. With Spurs' widemen getting down the wings Vos was booked for a heavy foul on Markanday. A rare attack by the home side saw them win a corner which was fielded by Parrott towards the near post. The striker tried to play the ball out to Roles on the halfway line but it was intercepted by Daverveld who played in Piroe on the right of the area. The Dutch payer was able to flight the ball into the top corner for the opening goal.

Spurs continued to push forward and Roles drew a save having been played in by Hinds. A counter attack saw Vertessen played through one on one with Austin who saved, coming out quickly. Roles had another chance saved from Markanday's cross. Skipp made a run and shot from the halfway line before he set up Parrott for a shot that was saved. Parrott returned the favour but Skipp fired over.

With the Spurs full backs getting forward in support, Brown fired wide having been played in by Markanday. The home side got a second when Ihattaren made a run through the right channel and when he shot his effort was deflected into the goal, wrong-footing Austin. Roles picked up a needless booking as he tried to delay a free kick in the corner before the break.

Spurs made a change for the start of the second half taking off Hinds for Maghoma to increase the attacking threat. Six minutes in Spurs were awarded a penalty when Bennett got down the left and was fouled by Oostenbrink having beat one man. Roles stepped up to take the kick sending Van Dorp the wrong way but hitting the keeper's legs. Eindhoven were rattled and Thomas went into the ref's book for kicking the ball away to slow things down.

Brown put in a cross which was headed over by Roles. As the Spurs pressure mounted the Dutch took off their striker and retreated into their own half. Markanday fired wide before Bowden drew a save from a lay-off by Parrott. Roles gave way to Richards before Eindhoven lost their second captain when Vos had to be replaced.

Sidibe played in Thomas to fire wide before the Spurs pressure finally told. Bowden sent Maghoma away through the left channel before the Spurs midfielder struck a rocket into the top corner. Maghoma fired over minutes later before a goalmouth scramble following a corner saw three attempts in the six yard box all blocked.

There was no attempt by Eindhoven to play now and it was all defence as Brown headed over. Spurs were able to take off Binks and put on White to send balls into the area. Parrott headed one of those balls over before in the dying seconds another ball in by White was killed by Parrott's head and Brown scored on the turn through a crowd of defenders.

For all their domination, Spurs had to come back from two goals down to snatch a draw. This in a game where they had 25 chances to the home side's 4. It somewhat mirrored the first team later in the day except they had a lead at 2-1. Both teams needed to win but neither did. Eindhoven did defend well even with Bennett and Markanday so good on the flanks. They did come inside more later on when camped in their half leaving Brown and White wide instead of pulling defenders out of the middle. It is hard to find fault with what they put into the game as it is always a problem to break down packed defences. This leaves Spurs in third place in the group with three points needing a result in the return fixture to go second.

            P  W  D  L  F-A  Pts

Barcelona   3  2  1  0  5-3   7
PSV         3  1  1  1  5-5   4
Spurs       3  0  3  0  4-4   3
Inter       3  0  1  2  3-5   1

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