Tottenham Embarrassed in Humiliating Loss at Dinamo Zagreb

Spurs Surrender in Second Half

After a first half to forget that followed 90 uninspiring minutes against Arsenal on Sunday, surely Tottenham was going to come out with something more in the second half to assure advancement. Instead, it was the same flat squad, only now instead of playing with the ball, Tottenham was starting the half and playing without it.

With Dinamo needing three goals to win – four is Spurs were to score – this should have been over. Of course, as a team without a great road track record in Europe, Tottenham should have been the aggressor.  The Lilywhites ignored the keys to the match and ultimately paid the price.

Spurs overplayed and undercovered for the first goal

The first goal of the three goals for Dinamo Zagreb was certainly the most incredible individual effort of the lot but even that goal came from a Tottenham mistake. After losing the ball near midfield, both Harry Winks and Serge Aurier decided to go chasing after the loose ball.

The problem is neither of the two players got there in time and Dinamo was able to play an easy forward pass to a wide-open Mislav Orsic. Normally in the Tottenham defense when the fullback goes that far in and up the holding midfielder covers. Well, one of the holding midfielders was holding hands with Aurier getting beaten to the ball – Winks.  The other holding midfielder – Moussa Sissoko – simply stood and watch the play unfold.

By the time Spurs recovered defensively everyone was out of position and Orsic was blasting in his wonder shot from the edge of the box. That goal gave Dinamo life – and sucked it out of Tottenham. Instead of taking out Sissoko – who was at fault to some extent on all three goals – Winks came off and Ndombele came on.

Gareth Bale had already been brought on – Erik Lamela’s yellow made subbing him easy – and Mourinho also brought on Giovani Lo Celso. Bale had a few moments and Lo Celso picked up a few fouls to earn some free kicks but neither really changed the match – nor did Ndombele.

It took a second before Tottenham tried

It really was not until after the second goal – following a sustained period of Dinamo possession – that Tottenham decided to start playing a more direct and attacking brand of football. It was not so much that anyone on the field changed as the players’ effort was clearly up a notch. The problem then became what we know exists for Spurs, in a stretched match our defense is easily penetrated.

Tottenham was finally attacking, but a confident and free-flowing Dinamo team was attacking right back. Basically, Tottenham did everything wrong in the match from the off and got what they deserved in the end. An imbalanced line-up, mixed with inconsistent effort, on the road in Europe is only ever going to lead to a defeat.

As Orsic went dribbling past Sissoko – who did not even stick a leg in to challenge on the play – it seemed inevitable that he and Dinamo would score and they would advance. Against all odds, coach in prison, Dinamo were the Cinderella story all of Europe needs. Well not all of Europe, as again it is Tottenham on the short end of the stick. Only this time it may have real consequences as the avenues for ANY European competition next season are quickly shrinking.