Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Chelsea
A VAR-assisted penalty by Harry Kane gave Tottenham Hotspur a crucial one-goal lead in the EFL Cup semi-final first leg at Wembley Stadium.
In a game dominated by Chelsea, Mauricio Pochettino will be delighted his team has its nose in front, but will be disturbed by an inability to boss the game. Maurizio Sarri’s Blues need to find a way to turn possession and pressure into goals.
This competition presents a great chance of silverware for both these clubs, though the EFL Cup betting odds still favour Manchester City who play Burton Albion in the other semi-final.
Pochettino and Sarri are the only two top six coaches yet to win a trophy, and the second leg is bound to be packed with drama.
Highlights of the game
Any thoughts Spurs had of making a fast start were quickly extinguished by Chelsea who seemed intent on pegging their hosts back.
Young winger Callum Hudson-Odoi looked lively from the off, taking a pass from Willian and firing a low shot to test Paulo Gazzaniga. Ross Barkley also had a couple of efforts, looping a header over and then trying an ambitious half-volley from distance.
Eden Hazard fired a shot in from 25 yards which had better direction, but it was well held by Gazzaniga.
On 24 minutes came the big VAR moment. Harry Kane looked to have sprung the offside trap and as Kepa flew out to meet the England striker, the keeper’s right leg sent him tumbling.
The offside flag went up but VAR rectified the decision. Kane stepped up and slammed the opener low to Kepa’s right to put Spurs one up against the run of play.
Chelsea have struggled in front of goal recently, relying on a rare strike from defensive midfielder N’Golo Kante to grab a recent 0-1 win over Crystal Palace. Sarri has encouraged Kante to push further forward, and he made a good striker’s run to meet a cross from Marcos Alonso. Unfortunately for the Frenchman, his first-time effort brushed the post.
The 18-year-old Hudson-Odoi has been the subject of attention from FC Bayern and you can see why they like him, and why Sarri wants him to stay. On the stroke of half-time, he came close to levelling with a cross-shot which Gazzaniga just managed to tip onto the crossbar. It was a desperate save and one to catch on the EFL Cup 2019 highlights.
Chelsea started the second half on the front foot. Hazard made space to float a beautiful ball over which Kieran Trippier cleared from under the nose of Willian.
Kane came close to making it two with a searing drive from 30 yards which Kepa saved in the top corner. But Chelsea hit back again and Kante forced Gazzaniga into another save.
After that, Andreas Christensen had a glorious chance to level when he arrived at the back post unmarked to meet a corner. However, he sliced his effort hopelessly wide.
It was all Chelsea, but every time they fired a ball into the box, a white shirt was there to clear the danger.
Spurs survived but it’s only half-time.
Key statistics
Spurs won this game at pre-match SBOBET odds of 2.14, but with 58 percent possession and 17 shots to six, the Blues can feel themselves a little unlucky to be behind after the first leg.
It was that man Kane who struck the crucial blow, and he has now contributed a goal or assist in each of the Spurs’ last nine games. And it was his sixth goal in 12 matches against Chelsea.
Pochettino’s team has now won its last three games against the Blues.
What’s next?
There’s another huge game coming up at the Wembley Stadium this week when Manchester United are the visitors in a crunch Premier League clash.
The Red Devils have their swagger back, winning all four games since the arrival of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as coach. Nonetheless, the Spurs need to win this clash to keep pace with the Premier League leaders.
Chelsea haven’t given up hope entirely, now that the top two have both lost their unbeaten records. A ten-point gap is a lot to make up, but a top-four place is in their hands and will probably remain so after the visit of struggling Newcastle to the Bridge.
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