Three minutes of madness oust Tottenham from Champions League
By Gary Pearson
Three minutes of madness in the second half cost Spurs their place in the Champions League, as Juventus snatched an improbable 2-1 victory after being outplayed for large portions of the match.
Harry Kane hit the post in the dying minutes, the ball eventually being cleared off the line. It’s a game of inches at the top level, evidenced by Kane’s near miss.
First half
Son Heung-Min was the difference maker yet again in the first half, providing a perpetual headache for Juventus’ experienced rearguard. The South Korean had a few close calls before scuffing one home for the crucial opener.
Harry Kane found an unmarked Christian Eriksen through the middle. The demure Dane dinked a lovely ball through to Dele Alli, whose attempted shot on goal was expertly blocked by Medhi Benatia.
The ball fell favourably for Kieran Trippier, who showed composure and intelligence to square for Son. The South Korean’s scuffed shot ricocheted off his right foot and spun fortuitously over a falling Giorgio Chiellini.
The 39th minute strike was Son’s most important Tottenham goal and his fifth goal in last three recent matches at Wembley.
Son almost put Spurs up a minute before the goal. Freed on the wing by an astute Ben Davies’ pass, Son swiftly set up a shot on his favoured left foot, dragging the resulting effort agonizingly by the far post. His first attempt of half came only three minutes in. He found space in the left pocket – a common theme in the first stanza – but his shot was parried away by Gianluigi Buffon.
Spurs were full value for their first half lead, but one instance stopped the hearts of Spurs’ supporters worldwide. Douglas Costa – Juventus’ most dangerous player of the half – was too clever and quick for Jan Vertonghen, who got his last-ditch tackle all wrong.
The Old Lady will feel aggrieved not to have been given a penalty, and rightfully so. It was a long-awaited bit of fortune Spurs deserved for the way they acquitted themselves in an extremely tense opening 45 minutes.
Second half
Sánchez couldn’t hear Hugo Lloris’ shout and attempted to clearance from a Juventus cross. The Colombian scuffed his clearance, which presented a chance for Paulo Dybala. The Argentinian whipped his volley well wide of the target.
Higauin instinctively equalized in the 65th minute. The Argentinian scored a poacher’s goal on the first time of asking, knocking it past a helpless Lloris.
Dybala then broke Spurs’ hearts, striking a dagger blow by finishing a breakaway minutes after Higuain’s equalizer. Davies played Juventus onside and Sánchez inexplicably stepped up, creating too much space between him and Vertonghen.
Higuain played Dybala through, the tandem using every ounce of their extensive European experience.
Son’s long-range effort in the 83rd minute didn’t have quite enough curl to trouble Buffon. It was one of the home side’s few threatening efforts in the second half as they struggled to adequately attack Juventus’ goal in the latter stages.
A valiant effort eventually fell short for Pochettino’s side, who will be heartbroken by the way this 2-1 defeat transpired.