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Individual Brilliance From Inter Condemn Tottenham to Defeat in Champions League Opener

Despite wrestling control from the home side for most of the game, Tottenham suffered a 2-1 loss in the San Siro against Inter Milan. A spectacular goal from Mauro Icardi and an injury-time header from Matías Vecino condemned Mauricio Pochettino to his third defeat in a row for the first time as Tottenham boss.

Tottenham Condemned to Defeat in Champions League Opener

A Sluggish Start

The first 20 minutes were a clear reflection of both sides’ lacklustre domestic form. With no attacking impetus from either side, Inter knocked the ball nonchalantly around the midfield without ever threatening to surge forward. 

There was no wonder Inter had a lot of the early possession; Tottenham were incapable of keeping the ball. Dwindling runs from Erik Lamela and Mousa Dembele were easily stopped and Spurs repeatedly insisted on playing to feet in confined spaces. Moreover, with Inter pressing them high in their half, watching Spurs trying to keep possession was infuriating. 

Their defensive press was similarly lacklustre, which often allowed Kwadwo Asamoah maraud forward from left-back. Marcelo Brozovic seemed to stroll around the middle of the pitch, dictating the play. Eric Dier and Dembele playing in front of the back four offered little mobility, which did not help them remotely.

Spurs Gradually Established Control

As the first half progressed, there were signs of improvement from Tottenham. They kept a more stringent hold on possession and worked the ball effectively down Serge Aurier’s flank on occasion. They then carved out the game’s first genuine opportunity. 

Christian Eriksen clipped a delicious ball over the top into Harry Kane, who took the ball down with a fantastic first touch. Instead of trying to fire past the advancing Handanovic, he tried to round the keeper. A sloppy touch sent the ball out of play; one would assume that a sharp, fully-fit Kane would have found the net.

The spectacle was improved after the break, with both teams looking to move the ball vertically and quicker. Eventually, the deadlock was broken after 53 minutes, when dogged pressure from Eriksen was rewarded.

Eriksen Gives Tottenham the Lead

A ferocious shot from distance was parried by Handanovic, before Eriksen reacted quickest to the rebound. His second shot then deflected off Miranda and spiralled over the Slovenian. It gave Spurs a lead that Inter seemed inclined to gift them. 

https://twitter.com/LastWordOnSpurs/status/1042113780585521153

This was the spark the game utterly needed. Spurs’ pressing seemed to increase in intensity as the second half progressed. Serge Aurier was as impressive as he had been in the first half, with key passes forward and incisive surges into the Inter half.

Thanks largely to the raucous support inside the San Siro, the latter exchanges were far feistier than the opening ones. The Inter fans willed their team forward, who moved the ball with more purpose. However, they still could not fashion a genuine chance for marksman Mauro Icardi.

Icardi’s Moment of Sheer Brilliance

However, a half-chance five minutes from time was all the Argentine needed to score his first Champions League goal. A floated cross from Asamoah found him on the edge of the area and he smashed a thunderous volley into the bottom corner. It sent the San Siro into delirium and, from then on, only one team looked like winning.

Inter piled on the pressure and, with two minutes to go, they stole all three points. Lucas Moura made his only mistake of the night when he left Matías Vecino at the corner. De Vrij’s header back into the box was eventually turned in by the Uruguayan. 

Pochettino Under Pressure

Pochettino, alongside his Spurs team, looked shellshocked. He cast a forlorn gaze at the final whistle, pondering over his side’s lack of big-game experience and a naivety that will punish them at the highest level. 

But he must shoulder a fair amount of the blame too. Starting Harry Kane seemed an unwise choice, as he looked mentally and physically tired. Lucas Moura, in stark contrast, was electric when he came on. Perhaps he should’ve had started up front and provided more of a spark. 

This is the first time Pochettino has lost three in a row as Spurs boss. He will fly back to London tonight wondering how on Earth, from their position of complete control, that they have returned empty-handed.

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