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Juventus vs Tottenham a few quick thoughts

  • Well you certainly cannot criticise Tottenham for not being entertaining can you
  • Easy on the eye for the neutral but if like me you are a fan then it is incredibly stressful
  • Once again it was a rollercoaster last night but the end of result showed Tottenham coming of age
  • They could have not got off to a worse possible start finding themselves behind in the first minute
  • Mousa Dembele gave away a free kick – it must be said that this was the only mistake he made last night
  • Miralem Pjanic who was fouled lofted the ball into the box and Gonzalo Higuain was afforded the freedom of the Juventus Stadium
  • Tottenham’s defensive set up was all at sea and although there was a hint of offside in regard to the Argentinian forward he was sharp enough to rifle home and put the Italian giants ahead
  • Once again though it was another sluggish start from Mauricio Pochettino’s men away from home
  • A start that was only going to worsen after just nine minutes
  • That was because Ben Davies took out Federico Bernadeschi in his own box and with that he gave the Referee no other option but to point to the spot
  • In fairness it was the right decision and Higuain slotted home to double Juve’s advantage
  • Hugo Lloris can consider himself unlucky not to keep the ball out but at the same time Spurs could have few complaints at being 2-0 down
  • From this point Spurs fans were fearing the worst as their side could have capitulated right before their very eyes
  • In fact it was just the opposite as going 2-0 down was the wake up call that the team needed
  • It was at that point the the likes of Christian Eriksen and Mousa Dembele started to take the game by the scruff of the neck
  • Slowly but surely Tottenham edged their way back into the game as the refused to give Juventus any of the ball
  • Harry Kane was in the thick of things, firstly he felt he should have had a penalty but if I’m being honest it looked like he threw himself into the contact and play was waved on
  • The England international was also responsible for Spurs best chance up to that point but his header was straight down the throat of the legendary Gianluigi Buffon
  • Still it is the measure of the man that he simply does not stop and he would eventually get his first half goal to put Tottenham back in the game
  • He received a through ball from Dele Alli and although he was forced wide, he had enough composure to round Buffon and slot the ball into the back of the net
  • The deficit halved and the belief levels rising
  • Or so it seemed
  • Serge Aurier had obviously not learned his lesson after giving away a penalty at the Bernabeu by doing exactly the same last night
  • He hauled down Douglas Costa after a rash tackle and Juventus were awarded their second penalty of the night
  • It looked as if all the North London outfits hard work in the past 35 minutes was to be undone, however it seemed as if lady luck was finally smiling as Higuain’s second penalty of the night rattled the frame of the goal
  • Tottenham were still in this and even if they did not score another they at least had the crucial away goal in their pocket
  • Only they would go one better than that as they deservedly pulled themselves level
  • Dele Alli was hauled down on the edge of the area, offering up a very central free kick for either Christian Eriksen or Erik Lamela to take
  • It was a very long wall that Juventus set up but that did not stop Eriksen from firing a low effort passed Buffon and into the goal
  • The Italian perhaps showing signs of age as he could and should have got down quicker to keep the ball out on his near side
  • Tottenham will not care though as they were now level
  • The question now for Mauricio Pochettino was to either to stick or twist
  • To get yourself back in the game it would be crazy to give it away again so the rest of the game saw Tottenham showing discipline throughout the pitch
  • They were given a scare late on when Douglas Costa danced through the defence on the left wing, his cross looked inch perfect for Higuain to complete his hat-trick but Jan Vertonghen got their first to clear the danger
  • Without the Belgian’s interaction there would have undoubtedly been a late Juventus winner
  • Full time came around and there was definitely cause for celebration in the Tottenham camp but also a case of what might have been after such a slow start
  • That said the second leg at Wembley next month is set up very nicely

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