In this weeks Europa League second leg, Spurs managed to overcome Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk, winning the game 3-1, and 3-2 on aggregate. Can they do the same to Benfica in next round? Could they go all the way?
It was a thrilling second leg, where I witnessed all the feelings of a Spurs fan, at White Hart Lane. Tottenham went one nil down after the second minute of the second half down to a poorly marked freekick, where Ruslan Rotan found Roman Zozulya in the box, who headed home with no challenge. This was a gutting moment for Spurs fans, as Tottenham were now two nil down on aggregate and it looked as though that might be the nail in the Europa league coffin. But, hope flickered back in the 50th minute when Roberto Soldado scored an offside goal. While the goal didn’t count, it seemed to light a spark in White Hart Lane. A minute later, Emmanuel Adebayor won a freekick and Christian Eriksen curled a beautiful shot into the back of the net.
Boom. Hope is restored.
A few minutes later that spark of hope would turn into a raging fire. Dnipro goalscorer, Zozulya was red-carded for headbutting Jan Vertonghen and the Lane was abuzz. Adebayor would capitalize scoring two great goals and Spurs were through to the next round. The second Adebayor goal was a particularly brilliant touch and finish. The 13-minute spell of unrelenting pressure was good for three goals, and Spurs got through to the next round.
It was a tense game, but to finally win that game and go through was a truly wonderful feeling. The atmosphere was booming and White Hart Lane was rocking again.
So, Tottenham face Benfica in the next round. That will be a tough game indeed. I believe that Spurs, on their best form will stand a chance and should give Benfica a really good game. If Spurs can beat Benfica then I don’t see why they cannot progress even further in the competition, and go all the way to lifting the cup in Turin. Winning the Europa league would be a fantastic trophy no matter how some fans put the competition down. After all, a trophy is a trophy, winning one is a great achievement.
Domestically, six points behind Liverpool for 4th in the Premier League, Spurs have some work to do. It’s vital that they gain as many points as they can over the next few games and just hope that teams above slip on a few banana skins. The loss against Norwich was a massive chance blown, but the season still has many games yet to be played. It isn’t over yet.
Maybe Tottenham should just go hell for leather in the Europa League now. The starting XI against Dnipro was a great example of what I mean. Sure, include some younger players on the bench, but lets get some experienced, quality players in the team too so Spurs actually stand a good chance against the opposing team. It’s maybe a bit too soon yet, to say “Scrap the Premier League, we’ve blown our Champions League hopes”, but a definite effort should be made in the European competition.
Let’s go all the way. Let’s be lifting that Europa League cup in Turin.
