Christian Eriksen was Tottenham's hero as they survived a late scare to secure a 2-2 draw at Sheffield United and book a place in the League Cup final against Chelsea.
The Dane looked to have put the Premier League side on cruise control with a sensational free kick opener that saw the Londoners go 2-0 up on aggregate at Bramall Lane.
However, the Blades' teenage forward, Che Adams came off the bench to score two goals in 140 seconds to turn the game on its head late on and leave the visitors staring at the prospect of extra time.
But heartbreak was just around the corner for the League One outfit as Eriksen surged free two minutes from the end to steer a low shot into the corner and send Spurs to Wembley courtesy of a narrow 3-2 success on aggregate.
KEY MOMENTS
PRE-MATCH: Tottenham make two changes from the first leg with match-winner Andros Townsend and forward Emmanuel Adebayor replaced by Mousa Dembele and Erik Lamela. The hosts opt for just the one, with playmaker Jose Baxter in for Louis Reed.
10' - OFF THE LINE! Campbell-Ryce motors to the right byline and hangs a cross into the six-yard box that Vorm fails to hold. The ball breaks to Murphy who sees his goalbound shot hacked off the line. So, so close for the home side.
26' - CLOSE! Dembele helps a pass onto Kane who powers into the left of the area, but can't shake off McEveley as he crashes a fierce shot from a tight angle against the outside of the post.
28' - GOAL! SHEFF UTD 0-1 TOTTENHAM. What a strike! Eriksen steps up and curls a quite sublime 25-yard free kick over the wall and into the far corner via the post. Spurs lead on the night and 2-0 on aggregate. That's the Dane's ninth of the season.
69' - CLOSE! Lamela teases a through pass for Mason who looks all set to make it two, only for Flynn to come from nowhere and slide the ball behind. Great defending. That was a real 'goal-saving' tackle.
77' - GOAL! SHEFF UTD 1-1 TOTTENHAM. Che Adams assumes the role of super sub as he arrives at the far post to coolly place a low effort into the far corner from Flynn's cross. Game on?
79' - GOAL! SHEFF UTD 2-1 TOTTENHAM. What a turn around!!! United lead! Adams does it again! Murphy clips a cross in from the right, allowing Adams to take a touch and drill a deflected effort into the corner.
85' - SHEFF UNITED CHANCE! Reed bursts free on the right of the area but arrows his sizzling effort just over the bar.
88' - GOAL! SHEFF UTD 2-2 TOTTENHAM. Eriksen does it again to surely save Spurs' blushes! The Dane makes a clever run through the middle and then drags a low effort back across goal and into the corner. 2-2 on the night and 3-2 to Spurs on aggregate.
KEY
STATS
Tottenham
have now scored in 17 of their last 18 League Cup semi-final games.
Christian
Eriksen has now scored 10 goals this season.
Spurs
have reached their eighth League Cup final and their first since 2009.
Sheffield
United have only kept one shut out in their last eight league and cup
encounters.
Tottenham
have not kept a clean sheet in any of their last 12 games away from home in all
competitions.
Spurs
have not won on any of their last six visits to Bramall Lane - drawing three
and losing three. (Stats courtesy of Opta and Infostrada)
TALKING
POINT
Can Spurs land their first trophy since 2008? Many
observers would have identified the winner of Chelsea versus Liverpool
as the likely winners of the League Cup and Jose Mourinho's men will no doubt
walk out at Wembley on March 1 as favourites. The second-leg of this semi-final
proved just how unpredictable Spurs can be, but on their day, they can beat
anyone - as they proved when they defeated Chelsea 5-3 at White Hart Lane on
New Year's Day. And when they won that last trophy as a matter of fact, in the
exact same cup final seven years ago. A repeat of the former would certainly be
a treat for the neutral. MAN OF THE MATCH
Christian Eriksen (Tottenham): The difference on the night and a class above. Scored a wonderful free kick to set Spurs on their way and then kept his composure to grab the all-important second and end United's hopes once and for all.
PLAYER RATINGS
SHEFF UTD: Howard 6, Harris 7, Doyle 7, Basham 7, McEveley 6, Scougall 7, Flynn 7, Campbell-Ryce 6, Baxter 6, Murphy 8, McNulty 6. Subs: Reed 7, Adams 8, Higdon 7.
TOTTENHAM: Vorm 5, Walker 6, Dier 6, Vertonghen 6, Davies 5, Mason 7, Stambouli 7, Lamela 6, Dembele 7, Eriksen 9, Kane 7. Subs: Paulinho 6, Townsend 5, Rose n/a.
No comments:
Post a Comment