Tottenham Hotspur suffered a Wembley wobble as they slumped to a 2-1 defeat to Monaco in their Champions League opener.
Mauricio Pochetino was in confident mood ahead of the game, but Monaco were more than up to the task on the night. Goals from Bernardo Silva and Thomas Lemar gave Monaco a two goal lead, before Toby Alderweireld replied before the break. In front of 85,000 fans, Spurs couldn’t complete the comeback, the French outfit holding firm to take all three points.
Wembley Woes for Tottenham
Playing in the new surroundings of Wembley, Tottenham started brightly. Controlling the tempo of the game in the early stages, it would count for nothing as Monaco capitalised on the counter-attack. Spurs would find themselves 2-0 down by the half hour mark.
With their first attack, Monaco nicked the ball in midfield before Silva stepped inside and rifled a shot into the top corner. The goal, against the run of play, invigorated the Ligue 1 leaders.
Lemar, who was brought on for the injured Nabil Dirar in the fifth minute, went on to double their lead. Pouncing on a loose ball inside the Spurs box, the 20-year-old cannoned an effort into the roof of the net.
But on the brink of half time, Alderweireld pulled one back with a powerful header from Eric Lamela’s corner.
Spurs entered the second half in a great position to churn out a positive result, but despite dominating, a goal did not come. Harry Kane and Dele Alli both tested the ‘keeper but Danijel Subasic was equal to them.
Meanwhile, Alli also had a penalty appeal waved away in a moment that sparked confusion among Spurs and Monaco players alike. Fabinho brought down Alli prior to Lamela swinging a corner in. Gianlucca Rocchi, the Italian referee, adjudged it to be a foul, but one from a dead-ball situation. Fabinho was booked, but no penalty was given.
Monaco weathered the subsequent storm of attacks and Tottenham’s Champions League campaign would get off to the worst possible start.
Mistakes critical in Tottenham Loss to Monaco
After the game, Pochettino was critical of Tottenham’s composure in front of goal. He said: “You pay when you make mistakes and we paid. They only had two shots and like to counter. We created chances but weren’t critical.”
“It’s only the first game but we need to improve and fast. We need to play with more hunger and passion.”
Next up in Group E for Tottenham is a trip to CSKA Moscow, who drew 2-2 with Bayer Leverkusen.
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