The build up to this match must have been strange for Tottenham fans. On one hand, they had endured a rather torrid start to their European adventure this season. But on the other, their side were on a run of five consecutive wins, including a derby win over Chelsea on Sunday. Likewise, Inter fans must have been wondering which version of their side was going to show up at Wembley.
The ‘Nerazzuri’ have been indifferent in the league so far this season, but have excelled in the Champions League, earning a credible draw with group winners Barcelona last time out.
Furthermore, the head to head record of the sides was also no aid in predicting upon which side the result would fall. Inter won a cagey affair in the reverse match on day one of the group stage, but had Tottenham been more clinical, they certainly would have taken the points.
Heading into the tie, the sides knew exactly what they were to do in order to seal qualification to the next phase of the Champions League. For Tottenham, only a win would do, as they were chasing down their opponents points tally. For Inter, they needed only avoid defeat and they would book their place in the knockout stages.
Given the clear ultimatum that they faced, Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham flew out of the traps early on, perhaps in a bid to shock their visitors into submission, and take an early lead. An early dart into the box from Harry Kane was a sign for what was to come from Tottenham, as the hosts controlled the early play and put incredible pressure on their guests.
In contrast Inter, although dangerous on the break, were struggling to retain possession and thread the final ball to the starved-of-service Icardi at the top of the field.
The pay would continue in this fashion, until out of nowhere, a spate of attacks from either side completely opened up the match. Similar to what one would witness during a boxing match, Tottenham and Inter traded blow after blow, keen to exploit one another’s defensive weaknesses by way of attaining a crucial advantage in the tie.
In a moment of sheer panic, Hugo Lloris was close to gifting the visitors the opening goal; he was unsure of how to deal with a back pass, and presented the ball to Perisic on the edge of the penalty area. Thankfully for the English side, the Croatian could only produce a poor low cross which deflected out of harm's way.
November 28, 2018
The more the match progressed in this fashion, the more evident it became that the more clinical side would leave the stadium as victors.
Not for the want of trying, each team continued to create openings, but were unable to make that one ‘golden chance’ to give them the lead.
Alas, neither would prevail before the break, as the sides went into the interval at deadlock.
November 28, 2018
Second half proceedings were arguably more tame than that of the first, as it seemed that both teams were wary of being caught out, and potentially suffering competition-ending consequences.
Still, there were plenty of chances for supporters of both sides to cheer.
Tottenham hit the bar through a long range Harry Winks effort and Inter forced Lloris to make a few smart saves in order to keep his side in with a chance of continuing their European adventure.
Opportunities became more clear cut and evident as time wore on, as the likes of Valero and Winks became more influential for their sides. A special mention must also go to Moussa Sissoko, who was outstanding all evening, in the middle of the park for the hosts.
As the match reached the 75 minute mark, Tottenham boss Pochettino went for broke and introduced Christian Erisken into the fray. The Dane had been unable to start the match due to picking up a knock against Chelsea at the weekend, but perhaps this was more to the detriment of opponents Inter, who were forced to try to defend against the playmaker after already battling for three quarters of the contest at Wembley.
The diminutive Dane made an instant impact. First, he set up a glorious opportunity for Jan Vertonghen; floating in a wicked cross to the back post, which his teammate managed to waste instead of testing the Inter back line. Nevertheless, Eriksen’s second contribution to the match was to be of ultimate importance.
After Tottenham broke away from defending an Inter offensive move, the Dane glided unmarked into the area, just shy of the six yard box.
A floated cross into the box by his fellow substitute, Heung-min Son, and evaded the entire collection of awaiting players bar one. Eriksen had timed his run perfectly to latch onto the ball,, and lift his finish emphatically into the back of the net. The hosts had attained their all important lead.
November 28, 2018
For the remaining 10 minutes of the match, Tottenham deployed a ‘defend from the front’ strategy, in order to see out the victory. And that they did. The introduction of Eric Dier in the heart of the midfield gave the side a robustness that the more slight Winks had been unable to provide throughout the game. And with that, companied by a session of ‘keep ball’ at the corner flag, the home side managed to grind out a vital victory at Wembley.
Overall, on the balance of play, a draw would have been a fair result. However, in such games like this, a clinical edge often proves the difference, which it did for a determined and tough Tottenham side on Wednesday evening.
November 28, 2018