Tottenham fight back to earn draw against Middlesbrough
By Gary Pearson
Tottenham’s resurgence in the second half made them the likely winners, but a strong Tomás Mejías save and a spurned chance from Serge Aurier means the two sides head back to north London for a decisive replay.
The 1-1 draw slightly flattered Middlesbrough after Spurs finished strong. The away side dominated proceedings after going down a goal. Again a slow first half cost Mourinho’s side, another issue the gaffer has to solve.
It was, other than a point blank Middlesbrough triple chance, a fairly uneventful first half. Had it not been for an alert save from Paulo Gazzaniga, Spurs would have trailed at the break. The away side protected the ball well, dominating possession. But Spurs failed to create any meaningful or threatening attacks on Boro’s goal.
Middlesbrough went a goal to the good early in the second half, when Eric Dier failed to execute an offside trap. Ashley Fletcher slipped through unfettered and punished Spurs’ square rearguard. Somewhat surprisingly, things improved markedly after Mourinho’s side conceded. A double change brought the match to life, with an ineffective Harry Winks and Ryan Sessegnon making way for Erik Lamela and Giovani Lo Celso.
Lucas Moura, who enjoyed an energized second half, equalized from a well placed header on a Serge Aurier cross. Aurier, who so often misses the mark with his deliveries from the wing, precisely picked out Moura on the back stick.
The Brazilian looked threatening every time in possession, probing and penetrating at every opportunity. He almost scored the winner on a venomous drive from the edge of the box but was thwarted by a strong save from Tomás Mejías.
Lamela positively impacted the match after his introduction, the Argentinian working his socks off all over the park.
I’m not sure why Jose Mourinho has such a compulsion to continue experimenting with a central back three. It doesn’t work, regardless of whom he places in the trifecta. At the Riverside he decided on Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld and Eric Dier, again, quite perplexingly, leaving out Davinson Sánchez. Whether Sánchez and Mourinho have fallen out or if it’s simply because Mourinho prefers his other options at centre back is unclear.
The Colombian definitely isn’t injured which makes one wonder why the gaffer has left his quickest centre back out of the lineup in successive away matches.
Mourinho will be pleased about the character his side showed after going down early in the second half. The overall performance still wasn’t nearly good enough, but at least Tottenham showed some intent and drive in the dying embers.
The tie will be decided when the two sides battle at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the decisive replay.