Tottenham and Maribor Draw in Europa League

Gylfi Sigurdsson scored Tottenham’s equaliser against Maribor

Tottenham drew their third consecutive Europa League match against NK Maribor in Slovenia. Andre Villas-Boas selected a strong team but with Gareth Bale and Mousa Dembele absent they lacked a threatening edge to their game. Spurs controlled possession for much of the game without causing the home side too many problems. Maribor were dangerous on the break but defended well to deny Spurs and were delighted with their point which keeps them ahead of Tottenham in Group J. The return game at White Hart Lane is a must win match for Spurs if they are to have any hope of progressing to the knock-out stages although they have been assisted by Lazio drawing in Athens with Panathinaikos where the home team scored a late equaliser. That result keeps the group very tight with Lazio on 5 points, Maribor on 4, Tottenham with 3 and Panathinaikos on 2.

NK Maribor 1  Tottenham Hotspur 1

Scorers: Beric                                           Sigurdsson

Team: Lloris; Walker, Caulker, Vertonghen, Naughton; Sandro (Livermore), Huddlestone; Lennon, Sigurdsson (Dempsey), Townsend (Falque); Defoe  Subs: (unused)  Cudicini, Gallas, Smith, Parrett.

Hugo Lloris started in goal for Tottenham who had Kyle Naughton returning at left back enabling Jan Vertonghen to partner Steven Caulker in central defence. Michael Dawson was unavailable due to a migraine. In midfield Gylfi Sigurdsson was selected ahead of Clint Dempsey and Andros Townsend played on the left for Gareth Bale. It was a strong team but as the game progressed it became obvious that as on Saturday, the absence of Bale, greatly reduced the team’s attacking threat. The match started at a good pace with both teams looking to get forward quickly. An early cross by Aaron Lennon who was captain, was headed out by a Maribor defender to Sigurdsson but he shot past when well placed. Maribor broke quickly but Spurs managed to recover to block the threat after Townsend had been dispossessed.

Maribor moved the ball at pace and were capable of passing through the defence with their short, quick passing movements while Spurs were slow to close them down. Gradually, Tottenham had the greater possession but without really causing too many alarms in the home defence. Spurs passed their way to the edge of the Maribor area where they were faced with a sound defensive presence. After 25 minutes Walker shot well past from distance and then when he progressed to the 18 yard line he was crowded out before he could shoot.

After half an hour a Tom Huddlestone free-kick was headed towards goal by Sigurdsson but lacked power and was easily collected by the goalkeeper. With increased Tottenham control Sandro got forward to shoot powerfully past the post. He then threatened again as he advanced and met a Huddlestone chipped pass on the edge of the area. He headed the ball down to Defoe but his shot was blocked. Maribor threatened with a shot from distance but it went wide. A good intricate Spurs passing movement between Townsend, Defoe and Sigurdsson ended as Maribor defended stoutly to deny them.

It looked as if it would be only a matter of time before Tottenham’s control brought them a goal but they were shocked four minutes before the interval when a poor Townsend pass was picked up by Maribor and a mazy run from Mezga took him into the area where his short cross was finished off by Beric. Careless midfield play by Spurs and poor defending cost them dearly.

The half ended with Spurs facing the prospect of handing control of the group to Lazio and Maribor. It was a match which neither team could afford to lose but Tottenham found themselves a goal down.

Iago Falque replaced Townsend for the start of the second half but Maribor had been encouraged by their late first half goal. Two early free-kicks by Huddlestone were wasted before Lloris was called upon to save when Maribor counter-attacked quickly. Falque was presenting a greater threat on the left as his cross was blocked for a corner. Spurs persisted in trying to play through a packed Maribor defence with short passes but there was always a defender to step in and clear before they could threaten.

Tottenham pushed the home team back with everyone, bar Lloris, inside the Maribor half but their possession was mostly confined to just over the halfway line as they created little in the final third. Finally, with just under an hour played  Falque’s driven cross was pushed out by the goalkeeper to Jermain Defoe. The striker hammered his shot towards goal but it struck a defender and fell to Sigurdsson, a yard out, and he bundled the ball home for an equaliser.

Both teams could have won the match with Maribor threatening on the break while Spurs too often resorted to shooting from distance when other options may have been more productive. The nearest Spurs came to scoring was from a Vertonghen shot which went past the post with the goalkeeper at full stretch. Overall, the Maribor goalkeeper was the busier but he was never really tested.

Aaron Lennon tweeted after the match and everyone will whole-heartedly agree with his thoughts.

[blackbirdpie id=”261562695063576576″]

This was another match which Tottenham should have won but were unable to turn their possession into goals or even clear cut opportunities. They rely so heavily on the threat of Bale that when he is absent there is no alternative. Much of Spurs’ play was ponderous and lacked the pace and threat so often associated with them.

Tottenham face Maribor at White Hart Lane in a fortnight before going to Rome for the return match against Lazio. They will be hoping that Bale will be available for both games as a win against Maribor is essential for them to take control of their destiny in the competition. In a very tight group, every point is going to be vital and there can be little room for error. Spurs’ final Europa League Group match is at home to Panathinaikos in December.