Tottenham advanced to the Carabao Cup Final after an assured 2-0 victory over Championship side Brentford.
Aside from a disallowed Brentford goal in the second half, the result was never really in question. Sergio Reguilón put it on a platter for Moussa Sissoko in the first half, and the Frenchman obliged confidently, placing his header into the corner of the net.
Son Heung-Min, on a classic Tottenham counterattacking move, put the semifinal to bed in the second half. The South Korean’s finish, after he received a perfectly weighted pass from Tanguy Ndombele, was emphatic.
Reguilón dispossessed Brentford and quickly relayed the ball to Pierre-Emile Kordt Højbjerg, who thread the needle smartly for Harry Kane. Spurs’ talisman found Ndombele in stride, and the Frenchman showed his class at pace in the final third.
Reguilón did everything he could to get back in Jose Mourinho’s good graces after contravening Coronavirus regulations during over the Christmas holiday period. The Spaniard enjoyed a marvellous performance, joining Eric Dier as the team’s top two performing defenders. Dier had a screamer of a match, playing both intelligently and with a fierceness we’ve seen a lot more from him in his preferred centre back role.
The Lilywhites perfectly executed Mourinho’s game plan, a strategy helped along by Sissoko’s early opener. Spurs didn’t concede many chances, but Brentford had no intentions of losing without offering a counterpunch.
VAR proved clearly, albeit marginally, that Ivan Toney was offside as he bundled home from close range in the second half. It was a massive moment as it looked like Brentford had equalized. The goal would have stood had it not been for VAR, so, in this instance anyway, the controversial technology deserves some rare praise.
Tottenham could have scored a couple more, with Kane, Son and Serge Aurier all spurning chances. That matters little though, as Spurs swatted away a resilient Bees side to make their first domestic final since 2015, where they will face one of the Manchester sides on April 25.
You can bet Tottenham will be up for that one, as it represents a chance to win silverware and break the club’s 13-year trophy drought.