The last-gasp nature of Tottenham’s progress to the Champions League final was fitting considering the competition they have had.
By Jonathan Veal, Press Association Sport, Amsterdam
May 9 2019 11:31 AM
The last-gasp nature of Tottenham’s progress to the Champions League final was fitting considering the competition they have had.
Spurs, who beat Ajax with only seconds of the semi-final second leg remaining, have dealt in late drama throughout their campaign.
Here, Press Association Sport takes a closer look at their antics at the death.
FULL-TIME: A late comeback sees the hosts take the points at the San Siro as we fall to defeat in our opening game of the @ChampionsLeague. pic.twitter.com/Keb9Lhu96f
The tone was set in their opening group game at the San Siro way back in September. Spurs were cruising towards victory over Inter Milan as they led through Christian Eriksen’s strike. However, a late collapse saw the Italian side score two goals through Mauro Icardi and Matias Vecino in the final five minutes to inflict an early defeat on Mauricio Pochettino’s side.
☝️#OneOfOurOwnpic.twitter.com/1VdtmWdjC3
Having also lost their second group game against Barcelona, Spurs could really have done with a win against PSV and it looked like they were going to get it after Lucas Moura and Harry Kane goals overturned Hirving Lozano’s early opener. But Hugo Lloris saw red and Spurs shipped an 87th-minute equaliser to Luuk de Jong to leave them with just one point at the halfway stage of the group.
For what would not be the last time, Tottenham were minutes from heading out of the competition as they laboured against the Dutch side in the reverse fixture at Wembley. They trailed to another Luuk de Jong goal and were on the brink of elimination until Harry Kane’s double in the final 12 minutes, the second coming with three minutes remaining, allowing Spurs to live another day.
Relief for Tottenham! Huge relief! Christian Eriksen keeps Spurs’ Champions League hopes alive ????Finish ???? pic.twitter.com/RscQUFqFTQ
This was effectively another shootout for Spurs as anything other than a win would have been the end of the road and they found life tough against an Inter Milan side who came for a draw. It was not pretty but Pochettino’s men found a way through in the 80th minute when Christian Eriksen fired home.
???? WE’VE DONE IT! Into the last 16 ???? #COYS #THFC
A post shared by Tottenham Hotspur (@spursofficial) on Dec 11,2018 at 1:55pm PST
Spurs needed to match Inter’s result against PSV to progress in the final round of group games – not an easy task considering they were away at Barcelona.
