Benji Stambouli Goal Gives Tottenham Victory Over Partizan

A goal by Benji Stambouli early in the second half gave Tottenham Hotspur victory over Partizan Belgrade at White Hart Lane and ensured their qualification for the knock-out stages of the Europa League.

Tottenham Hotspur 1 Partizan Belgrade 0

Scorer: Stambouli

Team: Lloris; Naughton, Chiriches, Vertonghen, Davies; Dembele (Bentaleb), Stambouli; Lennon, Paulinho (Winks), Lamela; Soldado (Kane) Subs: (unused) Vorm, Ball, Dier, Eriksen

With injuries and suspension, Mauricio Pochettino was unable to make as many changes as he has done for previous Europa League matches for this game against Partizan Belgrade. Five players were introduced for the penultimate group match with Kyle Naughton returning at right-back and Vlad Chiriches starting in central defence alongside Jan Vertonghen.

Benji Stamouli partnered Mousa Dembele in central midfield with Paulinho, Aaron Lennon and Erik Lamela to provide the creative spark for Roberto Soldado, the lone striker. Dominic Ball and Harry Winks were again among the substitutes with Nabil Bentaleb, Christian Eriksen and Harry Kane.

The first half was delayed for 10 minutes when the referee took the players off after 40 minutes, following the third pitch invasion by a spectator. Initially, it appeared to have been an orchestrated publicity campaign but later turned out to be an internet prank. Whatever it was about, it could have very serious repercussions for Tottenham.

Tottenham had started with early purpose with a shot from Soldado going wide in the first minute and one from Naughton going over in the 4th minute. Partizan pulled everyone deep and made it difficult for Spurs but counter-attacked with pace and threatened the home defence on a number of occasions during the first half. The first warning came in the 10th minute, when with Ben Davies forward, they broke on their right but the dangerous cross into the area was just ahead of the striker.

A minute later, Paulinho had a shot blocked on the edge of the area but Spurs were finding it difficult to find a way through the congested midfield. In another counter-attack, Chiriches cut out the forward pass to prevent Partizan getting through on goal.

After 20 minutes, Dembele won the ball in midfield and played it wide to Lamela on the left. His first time cross was just ahead of Soldado on the 6-yard line. At this point play was interrupted by the first of the pitch invaders who ran around taking “selfies” with the players. The stewards eventually got him off the pitch.

A poor pass out by Naughton set up the visitors but Hugo Lloris dived low to save the shot in the 23rd minute. At the other end, Davies set Lamela free on the left but the cross was cleared ahead of Soldado.

In the 29th minute, Chiriches missed a ball into the area but Lloris was out quickly to force Partizan wide. This signalled the second spectator to come onto the pitch with UEFA officials looking grim-faced on the touchline.

After 37 minutes, Lennon laid the ball back to Stambouli who fired in a low shot which the goalkeeper saved comfortably. On 40 minutes, a further interruption by a spectator, saw the referee take the players off the pitch. After ten minutes, they returned but Spurs were totally at sea through those final minutes of the half although a cross by Soldado was laid back to Lamela who shot wide.

After the interval, Spurs had a promising attack through Lamela and Dembele who put the ball wide for Naughton but his cross went behind. Two minutes later, Tottenham made the breakthrough when Stambouli gathered the ball in midfield and burst forward. He played the ball into Soldado in the area, he lifted it over the advancing goalkeeper but it struck the post. Stambouli had kept up his forward run and met the rebound to fire into the net in the 49th minute.