AUDI CUP FINAL
WEDNESDAY 31ST JULY, 2019
(Allianz Stadium, Munich – 8.30pm C.E.T)
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2(1) BAYERN MUNICH 2(0)
(Spurs win penalties 6-5)
Spurs scorers:-
Lamela, 19
Eriksen, 59
Bayern scorers:-
Arp, 61
Davies, 81
Attendance:- TBC
Referee:- Robert Hartmann (GER)
Assistants:- C. Leicher & E. Beltinger (GER)
Teams:-
Spurs (4-2-3-1) – First half:- Lloris (Capt.); Walker-Peters, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Rose; Sissoko, Winks; Lamela, Dele, Nkoudou; Lucas Moura
Second half:- Gazzaniga; Foyth (sub Marsh, 77), Alderweireld, Tanganga, White; Sissoko (sub Georgiou, 84), Skipp; Lucas Moura (sub Roles, 70), Eriksen, Son; Kane (Capt.)
Subs not used:- Whiteman; Parrott (Ndombele was not included on the official list of substitutes)
Booked:- Foyth (foul on Coman)
Bayern Munich (4-2-3-1) – First half:- Neuer (Capt.); Kehl, Sule, Pavard, Davies; Will, Johansson ; Tolisso, Nollenberger, Singh; Arp
Second half:- Ulreich; Kehl (sub Muller, 71), Boateng, Pavard, Davies; Zylla (sub Coman, 71) (sub Mihaljevic, 77), Johansson (sub Alaba, 60); Singh, Nollenberger (sub Thiago, 60), Tolisso (sub Sanches, 60); Arp (sub Lewandowski, 70)
No bookings
Youngsters hold firm and Spurs win the Audi Cup on penalties!
By the time Bayern coach Niko Kovac put his big guns on, such as Lewandowski and Muller, the Spurs team included youngster such as Japhet Tanganga, Harvey White, Oliver Skipp and Jack Roles on the pitch. The hosts of this tournament had made 9 changes to their starting line-up which was hardly recognisable from the team which yesterday thrashed Fenerbahce 6-1. Spurs had held back Kane, Son and Eriksen for the second half, but their first half team was stronger than a Bayern side which included 6 young players. Spurs only managed a 1-0 lead at half-time though and the injured Foyth had been replaced by another rookie George Marsh at right back before Bayern equalised to make it 2-2.
There was no extra time but a penalty shoot-out, which Spurs won thanks to confident spot kicks by Jack Roles, Oliver Skipp and a successful shot by Tanganga. Paulo Gazzaniga made good saves from Bayern’s first and last penalty kicks. Harry Kane had worn the captain’s armband during the second half, but I noticed that Moussa Sissoko wore it for the presentation of the cup. Sissoko had played 84 minutes of the game.
Bayern did have strength and experience in the centre of their defence, and of course with Neuer in goal for the first half. Bayern kicked off but within two minutes Spurs had a chance when Nkoudou passed inside to Dele, who worked the ball onto his right foot before hitting a shot from just outside the area which Neuer held. Dele was soon combining with Lamela whose effort won a corner. After 5 minutes, Kyle Walker-Peters did well, but had a little bit of good fortune in retaining the ball, before he sent an excellent cross into the 6 yard zone where Lucas Moura’s header was well saved.
Bayern’s Tolisso hit a good cross from the right flank and 19 year old Jann-Fiete Arp, signed this summer from Hamburg, glanced a header wide across the goal.
Spurs took the lead after 19 minutes, after good sharp play by Nkoudou down the left side, before he crossed into the danger zone and Lamela slid in at the back post to score past Neuer. Lamela soon had another shot – this one from outside the area – which passed wide of Neuer’s left post. Another Bayern young player Paul Will had a good effort deflected to win a corner.
The ever-powerful Sissoko was fouled just outside the Bayern area, but Lamela’s free kick came to nought. Singh had two shots before the break. One was well off target. The other was closer, but still wide.
Spurs made 9 half-time changes with only Sissoko and Lucas Moura staying on. Bayern made less changes initially, but ultimately their team was much stronger and a real threat to Spurs. There was little excitement until the latter stages though. The first real chance fell to Son after 56 minutes as he advanced through the centre, hitting a left foot shot which Ulreich saved. Son should have scored when Kane put him in, but the goalkeeper was able to save with his outstretched foot. Spurs did go 2-0 up in the 63rd minute through a very good move. Toby Alderweireld hit a good pass wide to Foyth on the right. Foyth crossed quickly and Harry Kane hit a clever pass to Eriksen, who was able to score with a right footed shot.
Bayern made more changes, one of which allowed Canadian winger Alphonso Davies (18 years old) to move forward from left back to left wing. Former Swansea man Renato Sanches was now also on the field of play along with Jerome Boateng. Almost immediately the hosts had a goal back with a fine finish by Arp, receiving in the middle before running forward and beating Gazzaniga from the edge of the box. Gazzaniga then held a shot by Sanches.
Son collected a long ball in a central position and fed Kane to his left. Kane’s left foot shot was well saved by the goalkeeper. More Bayern changes followed and now ace strikers Muller and Lewandowski had joined the fray. Foyth was booked for his foul on another substitute Coman, who never recovered from the injury he received when Foyth’s studs accidentally made contact with Coman’s thigh. Spurs cleared a powerful low cross into the 6 yard area by Lewandowski and it might have been Foyth who also suffered an injury and ultimately had to be stretchered off. Foyth will be suspended for our first two League games anyway, but the lack of resources in the right back position has to be a concern.
Bayern equalised through a powerful right footed shot by Davies from 22 yards, which beat Gazzaniga’s dive to his left. Spurs’ backs were to the wall for much of the time, but defend they did. Son made a break through the centre and passed to Sissoko who was almost in the clear on the left side, but then seemed to have no real idea whether he wanted to shoot or pass. He decided to try a pass, and failed, before being replaced by Georgiou. Son got forward on the right too, and passed inside to Eriksen, whose shot went over the far corner of the goal.
The sequence of penalties was as follows, with Spurs going first:-
SPURS BAYERN MUNICH
Alderweireld scores Alaba’s shot is saved well by
(rt ft-rt of GK) 1-0 Gazzaniga diving to his left 1-0
Eriksen fails with weak shot Thiago makes no mistake,
straight to GK 1-0 committing GK to his right 1-1
Harry Kane scores Muller scores with rt ft.
rt ft top corner 2-1 Gazzaniga rooted 2-2
Son scores rt ft. Sanches scores, but
GK wrong way 3-2 Gazzaniga gets close with dive 3-3
Jack Roles confident Lewandowski sends GK wrong way.
rt ft left of GK 4-3 Rt ft 4-4
Oliver Skipp, as confident Singh scores left ft,
as Roles 5-4 left of GK 5-5
Tanganga squeezes in Jerome Boateng’s shot is
rt ft shot 6-5 well saved by Gazzaniga! 6-5
This was a great experience for our young players who ended the game playing against top class opponents, and then dealt with the pressure of penalties far better than our playmaker who failed dismally with is effort. The Allianz Arena turned white on its outside in tribute to the Audi Cup Winners 2019!
