Tottenham Hotspur 5-1 win over MS Mura like a four act play

2 of 3

Nardin Mulahusejnovic of NS Mura wins a header during the UEFA Europa Conference League group G match between Tottenham Hotspur and NS Mura at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 30, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 30: Nardin Mulahusejnovic of NS Mura wins a header during the UEFA Europa Conference League group G match between Tottenham Hotspur and NS Mura at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 30, 2021, in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) /

Act 2: Tottenham gets tired?

As has been the case all season, Tottenham was unable to maintain the pressure and sustain the intensity they started the match with. Within a few minutes of the second goal, Mura had a decent chance of their own.

Mura was able to get down Tottenham’s right-hand side behind Matt Doherty – as was the case most of the evening. In the box, behind the fullback with the center-back sliding over, it was time to cross and it was a beauty met in the box by Nardin Mulahusejnovic who beat Sergio Reguilon to the spot but was unable to find the target.

That play seemed to shift the momentum of the match as Tottenham realized they could be had and Mura realized they had a chance. Instead of using that moment as the impetus to take control firmly and bury Mura before they got any bright ideas, Tottenham slowed down with the ball and got to just passing it around in a big circle around the pitch.

When Spurs are slow in possession on the ball they are their own worst enemy and that was the case Thursday, as the match ground almost to a halt and Spurs could not use the remaining 30+ minutes to get a third and put Mura away.

Act 3: Spurs have seen this play before

Much like the first act in this match, the third act did not last very long. Tottenham was allowing too much time and possession for Mura on the ball and they had earned a corner kick. Joe Rodon had seemingly cleared the initial corner but the ball fell to Ziga Kous at the top of the box.

As was the case last season with tremendous shots like the one from Lanzini, this volley from Kous flew past everyone, including a stationary Pierluigi Gollnii. Had Gollin clearly seen the ball he likely would not have saved it given the quality of the strike.

Now back in the match only trailing by 1, Mura seemed to pick up their intensity a notch and the big question would be how this relatively young Tottenham team would respond.

Given the results from the last month, coach Nuno Espirito Santo was taking no chances with this game and decided he was going to write the final chapter in the match.