Tottenham 3 CSKA Moscow 1: Dele Alli and Harry Kane star to earn Spurs a Europa League spot
England duo were on target in the first half to cancel out Alan Dzagoev's opener before an own-goal sealed victory
HARRY KANE and Dele Alli led the charge as Tottenham sealed a Europa League spot with a 3-1 win.
The England duo were on target in the first half to cancel out Alan Dzagoev’s opener before an own-goal sealed victory.
Alli and Christian Eriksen were guilty of missing guilt-edged early chances for Spurs in an open game.
The England midfielder had his head in his hands after fluffing a tame effort straight at Igor Akinfeev – who has not kept a clean sheet in 39 European games.
Their wastefulness was punished as Dzagoev raced through to slot an opener past Hugo Lloris.
But Alli brought up his first Champions League goal with a brilliant touch and curling finish to peg the visitors back.
And Kane made it 2-1 with his ninth goal in nine games to give Mauricio Pochettino’s side a half-time lead.
Pushing for the lead, Eriksen and Kane both brought smart saves from Akinfeev who kept his side in the hunt heading into the final stages.
But the Russian stopper somehow managed to slice the ball into his own net while keeping out an Alli header to ensure Spurs’ European adventure will carry on into the new year.
STATS, FACTS, GOALS & LOLS
- Mauricio Pochettino called the Europa “a competition that kills you” while at Southampton but will compete in it with Spurs this season.
- Empty seats but a decent crowd. Spurs benefited from selling their Wembley games as a package
- Ten minutes were on the clock when a big roar went up for Toby Alderweireld warming up after injury in mid-October.
- Alderweireld coming on in the second half couldn’t come soon enough if the opening goal was anything to go by. Spurs cut apart with a route-one goal from Alan Dzagoev.
- Mauricio Pochettino’s line-up pointed to taking the game seriously as Spurs were nearly at full-strength.
- CSKA only named five subs. It looked like they had one eye on a break as their next domestic game is in March.
- Dele Alli angered Zoran Tosic by almost scoring with a kick back to CSKA from a drop-ball. Pair niggled at each other after that.
- Dele loves a spectacular goal at Wembley. His leveller went with his amazing goal against France for England.
- Seven goals in six games since returning from injury shows why Harry Kane is worth his new contract.
- Christian Eriksen is in red-hot form at the moment, pulling the strings behind the front man.
BIG PICTURE
Spurs' next five fixtures
Dec 11 – Manchester United (a)
Dec 14 Hull (h)
Dec 18 – Burnley (h)
Dec 28 – Southampton (a)
Jan 1 – Watford (a)
SOCIAL SAYS
DREAM TEAM RATINGS
Lloris 6; Walker 8, Dier 7, Vertonghen 7, Rose 7; Winks 7, Wanyama 6; ERIKSEN 8, Dele 7, Son 6; Kane 8.
Subs: Nkoudou 6, Onomah 5, Alderweireld 6.
Alli reflects after missing a gilt-edged chance