Rotated Tottenham Team Dominates Ludogorets in Europa League

Domination with Goals

While we have seen that possession does not always have to equate to goals, today it certainly did for Spurs as Lucas Moura and Harry Winks both scored once, as Carlos Vinicius scored twice. There may have been a little bit of luck in two of the four goals, but given the domination, it was nothing undeserved for Tottenham.

Goal 1 – Vinicius’ First for Spurs

On the first goal Dele Alli had picked up the ball in the middle of the pitch and was on the dribble. He had two players in front of him, Bale toward his right and Vinicius to his left. As the defender started to step, Dele tried to slide the ball right to Gareth Bale.

Dele’s pass deflected off the backpedaling defender and into the path of Carlos Vinicius. The Brazilian forward knew exactly what to do with this gift as he took a touch and then calmly slotted under the onrushing Plamen Iliev for the 1-0 lead. Officially I do not believe Dele got the assist and his pass was off, but the outcome was what Spurs wanted and hopefully spurred some confidence in both Dele and Vinicius.

Goal 2 Carlos Does a Double

There was no doubting who assisted the second goal as Dele Alli unselfishly tapped the ball toward the mouth of the goal for an easy tap-in for Vinicius to score his second. Likewise, there was no doubting who had set up the second goal and it was neither Dele nor Carlos.

Tanguy Ndombele had collected the ball near midfield, then on a mazy dribbling run that would have made the late Diego Maradona smile, he went from midfield to the penalty box. Iliev got down just in time to palm the Frenchman’s shot away from the goal line. It was then Dele was alert to the loose ball and tapped over to Vinicius for the easy goal. So, Carlos got the goal, Dele got the assist, Tanguy made it happen.

Goal 3 Winks Hits a Wonder

It is not all that often that a player gets an assist off a throw-in at midfield, but that is what Ben Davies got today when he made a simple 10-yard throw into Harry Winks just up the pitch. As Winks got the ball and turned it was almost like no one else was playing as he had all the time in the world so Winksy looked around.

As Winks looked again, he realized the keeper was a bit high on his line and Gareth Bale was on the far side. After a third look and still no pressure, Winks launched the ball from a full 40 yards away from the end line while nearly standing on the touchline. Given 100 tries, it is hard to say how many of them would have been as perfect as that ball, but it is safe to say not many from some 50 yards away on a line.

Iliev knew he was in trouble as he scrambled toward the goal line. After taking a step toward the goal Bale realized the ball was not really for him and just watched it sail by and then raised his hands in celebration after. Winks had struck the ball perfectly and as Iliev dove full stretch he could not quite get a glove on the ball as it nearly simultaneously hit the underside of the crossbar and the inside of the post.

Winks had a subdued celebration as if maybe it was an accident but then again maybe not. Likely Winksy will claim it was a shot, I know I sure would and regardless it was a beauty, the kind of goal that would make even Harry Kane a bit jealous.

Goal 4 Brazilian to Brazilian

The final Tottenham goal was just excellent Spurs football. Pierre Højbjerg was pressuring in the attacking half and had knocked the ball loose. Dele Alli was hustling to help and stepped between the Ludogorets player and the now free ball. After a touch Dele looked up and hit a pinpoint cross to Vinicius between two defenders.

Carlos brought the ball down perfectly and spun to his right back toward Alli and away from goal. After going nearly, a full 360 Vinicius saw Moura coming in from just outside the box and he laid the ball back to his fellow Brazilian. Lucas Moura ran up and blasted the ball into the far corner for Spurs 4th and final goal and yet another assist for Vinicius.

Tottenham were outstanding from the opening whistle to the final whistle dominating possession and every conceivable aspect of the match. The game was so imbalanced Spurs outshot Ludogorets 24 to 0. Just to fully underscore the shooting dominance, Harvey White, and Dane Scarlett – both making their senior debuts for Spurs – each got a shot off in the nine minutes of action they had.

It was an excellent overall display from Spurs and exactly the kind of response and follow-up match you want to see after a big win at the weekend and with another big game looming ahead.