Match report: Spurs 3 Eintracht Frankfurt 2 (close, but we came through)
Close, score-wise, but we were the better team on the day. On another positive front, Sporting Lisbon got beaten (with two players sent off). This means we are at the top of the league with 7 points, followed by second-placed Marseille (who beat Sporting 2-0), who are on six points. Sporting are on the same points as Marseille, but third on goal difference. The bottom of the deep shit zone pile is our opponents from last night (Wednesday).
All looking good; if we should beat Sporting Lisbon at home (and we are undefeated at our ground), we will go through… the top two places enter the playoffs.
A bit of news to report, the bin-dippers, yes, the Scousers, beat Rangers 7-1 away from home in their Champions’ League group… Which is nothing to write home about, as Rangers are basically a kindergarten team in Europe. In their own league, they are in a two-horse race; the rest are just floaters in a toilet waiting to swim with the bigger turds.
Yes, the Dole Querers seem to have impressed everybody for doing the bleeding bloody expected. Never mind, they will get their comeuppance once they face the real meat on the bone… but enough of them…
Because of my car incident, Mel drove to our ground, getting there just before the gates opened. Then we got our oversized programmes, then food, followed by chatting about that night’s battle, giving one’s prediction and any other insight we would like to share…
…well, that was interesting, you are possibly thinking… now moving on to the crème-la-resistance (yes, Frankfurt resisted a bit… bastards!). Yes, the team that was supposed to roll over and lay down so that we could walk all over them… instead, they smashed the first goal into the back of our net. But never fear, we have Batman and Robin (otherwise known as Kane & Son) to come to our rescue… even though Kane slightly fluffed his lines by floundering his second penalty kick of extra time.
Yes, Son scored twice as we beat a 10-man German team to move top of the Champions League Group D table. As I said, Frankfurt took an early lead, when Eric Dier lost possession. Daichi Kamada was teed up to score from close range, but Harry Kane set up Son for the equaliser six minutes later. The great combination worked again for us.
Kane then scored from the penalty spot, and Son’s thumping volley made it 3-1 before half-time. It was all over, we thought, as the crowd lifted themselves onto cloud nine.
Second half…
Even though their Frankfurt’s Tuta was shown a second yellow card for bringing Son down early in the second half, Faride Alidou’s header made it 3-2 with three minutes remaining to make for a nervous ending for us fans. Yes, we were shitting ourselves… but the whistle blew to put us in safe mode.
But before the whistle was blown, Kane missed a second penalty in stoppage time, but by then, we were reasonably safe and deserved our win.
Thoughts
Our visitors struggled to deal with our attack, but Hugo Lloris was forced to tip over an effort by Jesper Lindstrom, and there was some desperate defending as Frankfurt had chances late on. Yes, they threatened all through, with Son, Ryan Sessegnon, Richarlison and Cristian Romero among those who came close.
It was a panicky finale, but success means we sit top of the group with two wins from four matches, while Frankfurt dropped to the bottom of the table with four points.
Son scored his fifth Champions League brace
Frankfurt dominated early on and pressed and harassed us, leading to a mistake from Dier and the opening goal from Kamada, who had already come close when just failing to connect with Lindstrom’s cross.
The crowd felt we would quickly get a goal, and 6 minutes later, Son Obliged. We did not take long to exploit the gaping spaces left behind by Frankfurt.
Kane and Son were on form, linking up smoothly and causing havoc as Richarlison worked tirelessly to create space to run into. The efficiency of our attacking line-up was too much for Frankfurt, and it was only a matter of time before we turned things around.
Kane won and converted a penalty when he was pushed to the floor over in the box by Kristijan Jakic less than 10 minutes after he had set up Son for the equaliser.
Eventually, Son was taken off to a standing ovation. He capped off a superb performance with a walloping volley before half-time.
We should have finished with a comfortable victory, but the late header from Alidou gave way to a wild few minutes as our substitute Bryan Gil missed a diving header. He was then fouled in the box to earn a penalty, but Kane fluffed his lines as he unexpectedly fired it over the bar.
We – as in the crowd – went crazy as the team threw bodies in front of the ball to block a late onslaught from the visitors, but we hung on to claim victory. A few stained pants in the crowd and no doubt on the pitch as well.
Overall, it was a good night… all went home with smiles on our faces… on top of all that, Lucas Moura returned as he came on as a substitute for his first appearance since August due to injury.
So that is that… we are at the top of the league… it is in our hands whether we want to get to the knockout stages or fuck it up!
Next up is Everton, from the poorer part of the Dole queuers/ Scousers territory. They are sitting happily in mid-table under the watchful eye of Chelski’s Frank Lampard. The toffee chewers are obviously up for punishment… let us hope we give them some at our undefeated stadium, at least so far this season.
Up the Spurs!
Glenn
My name is Glenn Renshaw.
I am currently a Premium Season Ticket holder (West Stand) in the new stadium. Before that – at White Hart Lane – a season ticket holder in various parts of the ground (mainly in the North stand).
Before becoming a season ticket holder, I stood on the shelf and various other parts of the ground since the 1950s. In 1987 I became one of the first to hold a Spurs Membership card. I was also a life long member of the Spurs supporters club (now defunct).
I go to all home, away and abroad matches.
I was born in 1955, Edgware, London (it was in the late 50s – as a baby – that my dad took me to Spurs to initiate me). I currently live in Berkshire.
I also collect all Spurs books (and have everyone printed), Spurs handbooks (from 1920s onwards, Spurs programmes (since the 40s).
Previously, I wrote for Spurs Fanzines: The Spur, Spur of the Moment, My Eyes have seen the Glory and various other Spurs fanzines’. I also wrote for the SpursWeb app & its website.
I currently write and work for spursnetwork.com and its website. I write its Reviews & Match reports and a lot more.
My other interests are; reading, history, social history, Politics, going to the gym, wine, going out for a meal, music (all sorts), writing, theatre, concerts, going on holidays, socialising etc.
I have been writing blogs/ articles since 1989
If you wish to read more of my blog, please click “here”
