Premier League International Cup 2018-19
    Lamex Stadium, Broadhall Way,Stevenage
       Wednesday 23rd January 2019, 7pm

           SPURS     v   ATL. BILBAO
        (White/Blue)     (Black/Grey)
          4-1-4-1          4-2-3-1

            5(2)             4(1)

   Jonathan De Bie   1   Hodei Oleaga
       Tariq Hinds   2   Jon Sillero
     Dennis Cirkin   3   Jon Rojo
      George Marsh   4   Julen Bernaola
  Japhet Tanganga(C) 5   Gorka Perez(C)
     Timothy Eyoma   6   Unai Vencedor
   Shayon Harrison   7   Gaizka Larrazabal
Tashan Oakley-Boothe 8   Victor San Bartolome
   Vincent Janssen   9   Asier Villalibre
        Jack Roles  10   Inigo Vicente
  Anthony Georgiou  11   Imanol De Albeniz

     Shilow Tracey  12   Oier Zarraga
         (4)81Mins
   Charlie Freeman  13   Ander Iruarrizaga
      Dylan Duncan  14   Javier Murua
         (8)78Mins       (5)11Mins
    Maximus Tainio  15   Benat Prados
                    16   Antonio Salado
                         (11)73Mins
                    17   Juan Artola
                    18   Asier Benito
                         (8)79Mins

Scorers:-
    Janssen 2            Villalibre 36
    Roles 14, 67         Vicente 60, 90+2
    Tracey 83            San Bartolome 64
    Georgiou 87

Booked:-
 Janssen 30(Late)        Larrazabal 32(Trip)
                         Vicenti 39(Foul)
                         Sillero 53(Holding)
                         Murua 90+4(Foul)

Coach:-
    Wayne Burnett

Attendance:- 464

Referee:– Tom Reeves
Assistants:– Paul Evans & Ryan Whitaker
Fourth Official:– Andy Loe

It was a cold evening for the last group game in this competition. The remains of the previous day's snow had been cleared from the pitch. Spurs went into this match second in the group behind Wolfsburg on goal difference with Bilbao a point behind. That meant that a point would see Spurs into the next round while Bilbao needed to win to top the group.

Spurs lined up with De Bie in goal following the injury to Austin at Norwich on Friday. He was behind Tanganga and Eyoma with Hinds at right back and Cirkin on the left. Marsh anchored the midfield with Oakley-Boothe and Roles ahead of him. They were flanked by Harrison on the right and Georgiou on the left in support of Janssen up front. With games on Thursday and Friday it was a short bench for Spurs.

Spurs kicked off the first half attacking the South end and took an early lead when Janssen played the ball out to Georgiou and made the thirty yard run into the area to turn in the resultant cross. Bilbao had to make an early change before Vicente drew a save from De Bie. When Roles was fouled on the edge of the area he took the kick himself and curled it into the near side of the goal to increase Spurs' lead.

Bilbao's pace up front saw Larrazabal fire wide and Vicente force a save from De Bie. Janssen was booked for a late challenge on his marker in the centre circle before Larrazabal was booked when he run with Oakley-Boothe for some twenty yards before fouling him as he was getting away. When the free kick was not cleared Roles centred for Harrison to head wide.

Athletico pulled a goal back when Vicente sent Villalibre through to beat De Bie. The visitors stepped up their pressure on the Spurs goal with Larrazabal firing wide. Vicente was booked before he drew another save from the keeper and then crossed for Villalibre to also force a save. Vicente played in Larrazabal to fire over before the break.

There were no changes for the start of the second half which saw Bilbao push for the equaliser. San Bartolome drew a save from De Bie which was recycled and when centred hit the arm of Eyoma to win a penalty. Vicente hit it low to the right, but De Bie saved.

De Bie had to make further saves from Villalibre and Vicente before Sillero was booked for a foul on Georgiou that would not have been out of place on a rugby field (grabbed his ankles). De Albeniz fired over before Janssen played in Harrison for a chance that was saved. Vicente tried a lob when he saw De Bie off his line but the keeper held it, but as he played it out to Marsh the defender was caught by San Bartolome who laid it off for Vicente to equalise.

Atletico went for the winner with Larrazabal drawing a save before a quick break saw De Albeniz get down the left and pull the ball back for San Bartolome to drill home and put the visitors in front. The lead did not last long as Spurs attacked down the left with Georgiou passing inside to Roles who played a one-two with Janssen, moving the ball right before shooting into the far corner of the net.

Villalibre fired wide and Vicente drew a save before Harrison headed wide of the far post from a corner. Both sides made changes with Spurs replacing Oakley-Boothe with Duncan in centre midfield and then Tracey replacing Marsh to go to the right flank with Roles dropping to the anchor role. From that position Roles played a ball into the path of Tracey who got down the right before scoring from a tight angle to put Spurs back in front.

Bilbao were still a danger up front with Vicente playing in Villalibre to fire over. Janssen sent Tracey away on the right and his cross was met at the far post by the sliding Georgiou to make it 5-3. With the game going into added time Bilbao pulled a goal back with a low drive by Vicente. Murua was booked for a foul on Janssen from behind before the final whistle.

This was a game that had just about everything from two attacking sides who both wanted to win. The pace of the Spanish side put them in goal scoring positions more often than the home side managed but Spurs' finishing was better on the night. The win secured Spurs a top place finish and they will go into the last eight. They join Southampton, Reading and Villarreal who have qualified so far.

Ray

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