Reflections On Tottenham’s Win Over Inter Milan in Europa League

Following the first leg win over Inter, Tottenham are set up nicely to progress to the quarter-finals of the Europa League. With a three goal lead and a clean sheet, Tottenham know that they have a huge advantage over Inter ahead of next week’s game in Milan.

Tottenham Hotspur 3 Inter Milan 0

Gylfi Sigurdsson played a significant part in Spurs win. [Photo: Jav The_DoC_66]This was one of the best performances by a Tottenham team in European competition that I can remember. By that I mean it was so comprehensive. Right from the kick off the team appeared confident and in control all over the pitch. We were faster on to loose balls, quick in the tackle, always looking to go forward. In quite a few recent games, we have got used to seeing the performances build gradually and stepping up a gear in the second half. Against Inter we were on the front foot right from the start, holding the now familiar high line in defence and looking to attack at every (sensible) opportunity. With Adebayor getting injured in the Arsenal game, Spurs were lucky that Jermain Defoe was able to start. He looked fit too. Not easing himself in gingerly as sometimes happens with returning players. Spurs’ first goal came from a move down the left hand side. Gylfi Sigurdsson doubled back on himself from the corner flag and running towards the Tottenham goal swivelled, sending in a precise cross with his right foot onto the head of Gareth Bale. He rose above a weak challenge from Cambiasso to place his header in the bottom right and corner. It was his 21st goal of the season, his 11th in the last nine games.

Spurs did not let up. Totally dominating. They were first to every ball, more committed in challenges. In another surging attack, this time down the left, Gareth Bale hit the deck when challenged from behind in the penalty area. The referee decided that he has dived and booked him. There was definite contact on his left shin but the referee and most observers believed he had left it hanging on purpose. His first touch had not been up to its usual high standard. That meant he would be out of the return leg. As it eventually turned out, it probably won’t matter. Sure enough a second goal came soon after. It was scored by Sigurdsson, side footing in the rebound from point blank range off the goalie from Defoe’s turn and shot following neat interchanges between Dembele, Lennon and Defoe.

In the 41st minute, in a rare break Inter got lucky when an attempt at a threaded pass hit the foot of  a Tottenham defender and ricocheted up over the head of the last man to drop into the path of the on running Alvarez. With just Brad Friedel to beat, he slid it past the right hand post for a goal kick. He collapsed to the floor and lay there clutching his face in disappointment. Inter perked up for the following 5 minutes and had a shot deflected past the post.

Jermain Defoe and Gareth Bale against Inter Milan [Photo: Jav The_Doc]Spurs started the 2nd half much as they had played most of the first. Jan Vertongen was getting forward to the left of the penalty area and ghosted an awkwardly bouncing cross from the right just wide. In the 52nd minute a beautifully curling Bale corner dropped onto the head of an unchallenged Vertongen, who guided it down confidently to the goalie’s right. 3-0. Spurs had more chances but failed to convert them. Defoe continued to look sharp but remained unlucky. In the 62nd minute Handonovic got his hand down a bit (get it?) to push a Defoe shot under his body so that it bobbled past the post.  Defoe was that keen to score he held on to the ball once or twice when he would have been better off passing. Livermore came on for Dembele in the 65th minute. Then Defoe broke from within our half down the left and there was an amazing scene like an Olympic sprint race, with Bale roaring half the length of the pitch through the middle, Walker doing the same to the right of him and Lennon the same, cutting to the left of Defoe. Defoe held on to the ball when a pass was the obvious thing to do and was robbed of possession as he tried to size up a shot. Not surprisingly, he got the evil eye from Bale but they still seemed to be on good terms in the post-match interview. It’s hard to be angry with Defoe. He needs a goal, striking is his job and you don’t get to be that prolific over the years without having to be a bit selfish. On another night he would have had a hat trick with a bit more luck.

Andre Villas-Boas swapped Lewis Holtby for Sigurdsson, the reverse of recent substitutions and he came close to scoring too. For 15 minutes Spurs eased up a bit and Inter had more possession.  They only really broke right through on goal once in the second half but the dependable Friedel was equal to it, saving with his foot.  Kyle Naughton came on for Lennon in the 81st minute.

It was a comfortable victory and the Spurs fans were royally entertained. To sum it up, I received a text which said, “Feels weird to be disappointed with a 3-0 win over Inter Milan!”

Spurs:

Friedel, Assou- Ekottou, Vertongen, Gallas, Walker, Dembele, Parker(c), Sigurdsson, Dembele, Lennon, Defoe

Inter Milan:

Handanovic, Juan, Chivu, Ranocchia, Zanetti (c), Cambiasso, Gargano, Pereira, Kovacic, Alvarez, Cassano