Premier League U-23 International Cup, Group C
      Lamex Stadium, Broadhall Way, Stevenage
          Monday 3rd December 2018, 7pm

     Tottenham Hotspur 2(1) – 1(0) Vfl Wolfsburg

Spurs(4-1-4-1):– Austin; Hinds, Tanganga(C), Eyoma, Brown; Marsh; Oakley-Boothe, Duncan(Reynolds 71), Maghoma(Pochettino 82), Roles(Georgiou 65); Sterling

Unused Subs:- Glover; Thorpe

Scorers:– Roles 45+1, Sterling 47

Booked:– Tanganga 17(Foul), Duncan 65(Foul), Marsh 90(Foul)

Wolfsburg(4-2-3-1):– Klinger; Ziegele(Moker 74), Siersleben, Saglam(Herrmann 58), Klaus, May, Hanslik(C), Badu, Segiun, Yeboah(D. Itter 58), G-L. Itter

Unused Subs:- Tasche, Messeguem

Scorer:– Hanslik 82

Booked:– Saglam 15(Pull), May 38(Foul), Klaus 56(Diving), Ziegele 68(Foul), Segiun 72(Foul)

Attendance:- 433

Referee:– Savvas Yianni
Assistants:– Scott Williams & Michael Chard
Fourth Official:– Jeffrey Aldous

It was a wet evening for Spurs first game of the season in this competition. Wolfsburg have already beaten Athletic Bilbao 4-0 while the Spaniards have beaten Norwich 3-0 in the other group matches so far.

Spurs lined up with Austin behind Tanganga and Eyoma with Hinds at right back and Brown on the left. Marsh anchored the midfield with Duncan and Maghoma ahead of him. They were flanked by Oakley-Boothe on the right and Roles on the left. Georgiou returned from injury and began on the bench along with Pochettino.

Spurs kicked off the first half attacking the South end but Wolfsburg began the better with G-L Itter playing Klaus in to hit the far post and Saglam firing wide. Maghoma got into the area but took the ball too far and had to pull it back with Klinger saving from Duncan.

Yeboah headed wide at a corner before Roles drew a save. Tanganga headed over from a corner before Saglam was booked for pulling back Oakley-Boothe. Badu and Yeboah both had efforts hit over before Tanganga was booked for a late lunge at Klaus when he ran onto a loose ball.

Segiun headed over before Austin had to make a double save from Itter and then Yeboah. Spurs were now beginning to get more of the ball and Sterling fired wide from a free kick by Brown. Sterling then headed wide from a cross by Duncan.

May was booked for a foul on Oakley-Boothe before Sterling played in Maghoma for a chance that was wide. Sterling netted at the far post from a cross by Brown but it was ruled out for offside. As the half entered added time a Spurs corner was half cleared and Duncan played it back in. Klinger collected it from a defender's backheader only to be robbed by Roles who scored from a tight angle.

There were no changes for the start of the second half which saw Saglam fire over from Yeboah's cross. Roles sent Sterling away down the left and the striker cut inside before driving low inside the near post to extend Spurs lead.

Roles played in Sterling who then played in Maghoma to draw a save from Klinger. Hanslik played in Yeboah to fire wide before Klaus was booked for diving. Wolfsburg made a double change in an attempt to raise their game. Sterling fired wide before one of their subs - Herrmann - had his free kick saved by Austin.

Duncan was booked for a foul on Badu just before Georgiou replaced Roles and was welcomed by Ziegele knocking him over which earned him a booking. Reynolds replaced Duncan after he had taken a knock. Segiun was booked for taking out Brown with a sliding tackle as the Germans began to lose it.

A free kick by Klaus was saved before Herrmann fired wide. Wolfsburg pulled a goal back from a corner when Hanslik scored at the far post. Spurs took off Maghoma for Pochettino to work the right flank. Hanslik saw his effort deflected for a corner and Marsh was booked for a foul as normal time ended. Spurs held out for the win which puts them in second place in the group. Spurs will take on Norwich in January.

             P  W  D  L   F-A   Pts.
Wolfsburg    2  1  0  1   5-2    3
Tottenham    1  1  0  0   2-1    3
Ath. Bilbao  2  1  0  1   3-4    3
Norwich      1  0  0  1   0-3    0

Ray

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