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Erik Lamela’s brilliant rabona helps Tottenham beat Asteras Tripoli Erik Lamela’s brilliant rabona helps Tottenham beat Asteras Tripolis
(about 3 hours later)
Even Bill Nicholson will not have witnessed many more remarkable goals than the superb rabona that Erik Lamela scored to secure Tottenham’s first European victory of the campaign. This game will always be remembered for the Argentine’s impudent effort in the first half, but Harry Kane’s hat-trick also lit up a comfortable win for Spurs that leaves them in a commanding position in their group. Even Bill Nicholson will not have witnessed many more remarkable games than this dizzying offering that ended with Harry Kane walking away with the match ball and the Tottenham goalkeeper’s gloves. But that was not even half the story given Erik Lamela’s earlier wonder strike that set Spurs on their way to a first European victory of the campaign.
Nicholson, the great Tottenham manager, died 10 years ago this week and this performance was a fitting tribute to a club icon. Mauricio Pochettino’s side were in an enjoyably ruthless mood against a team which had started this competition well. It was a fitting tribute to Nicholson, the great Tottenham manager, who died 10 years ago this week. Quite what he would have made of it all is anyone’s guess but one thing is for sure: the 21,428 who witnessed it got their money’s worth. Even before Kane had stooped, stumbled and fumbled a late Tripolis free-kick into his own net, this match had provided five goals. The sixth was simply comical, the Greeks gifted that consolation after Hugo Lloris, the Tottenham goalkeeper, was sent off moments before.
It was quite a night for Kane, who went in goal for the closing stages following a red card to Hugo Lloris. Kane let a free-kick from Jerónimo Barrales slip through his fingers, but it was scant consolation for Tripolis. Mauricio Pochettino was so annoyed by the farcical finale that he seemed to have forgotten his side had thrashed the previous group leaders. Tottenham were rampant and ruthless, Kane stealing the show but Lamela providing a moment of quality that will undoubtedly be the finest goal in the Europa League this season.
Spurs were in need of a win given their position in Group C before kick-off. Two draws from two had eased them into the campaign, but given Tripolis topped the standings having won in Belgrade and drawn against Besiktas, the unexpected leaders had emerged as the team to beat in their debut campaign. The Argentinian scored twice but it was his first-half rabona that sparked a gasp from all inside the stadium. It set the bar for an evening of joyful entertainment, even if Pochettino struggled to muster a smile.
Tripolis’ population is less than 50,000 and, for the small number who had made the journey from Arcadia, their first-half was certainly one to forget. They were 2-0 down after half an hour, having squandered opportunities of their own after threatening Spurs’ centre-back pairing of Federico Fazio and Jan Vertonghen. “I’m happy for the result, 5-1. I’m disappointed with the last five minutes,” said the Spurs manager. “We need to manage the game better. It was unlucky because it was a red card but I am not happy. Our defensive line was very high and we gave them the opportunity to play in behind. We were not ready and focused. We gave them the opportunity to play one-on-one with our keeper.”
The Belgian was one of six changes made by Pochettino following the 4-1 defeat to Manchester City last weekend. It was Lamela, though, who produced the game’s finest moment with an exquisite piece of skill in the 29th minute. Before then Tripolis had arguably matched Spurs, but the Argentine’s brilliance put paid to any hopes of an equaliser in the opening half. Jerónimo Barrales was the grateful recipient of Kane’s late gaffe but the free-kick from 25 yards will have done little to raise the visiting team’s spirits. Although Tripolis had numerous opportunities, their defending was at times dreadful.
Etienne Capoue was caught out early on when covering in a central defensive position, turning awkwardly following a ball over the top, but the Tripolis midfielder Pablo Mazza could only drag his shot wide. It was to be the story of the half for the Greeks, with Giorgos Zisopoulos coming close with a looping header from a free kick, while Ben Davies clearing brilliantly off the line moment’s before Lamela’s effort at the opposing end, Facundo Parra denied after his initial shot was parried by Hugo Lloris. Spurs were in need of a win given their position in Group C before kick-off. Two draws from two had eased them into the campaign but, given that Tripolis topped the standings having won in Belgrade and drawn against Besiktas, the unexpected leaders had emerged as the team to beat in their debut campaign.
Kane had already given Spurs the lead with an effort out of the blue. Tottenham were beginning to press when the forward received the ball from Capoue and rifled a low shot past opposing goalkeeper Tomás Kosicky and in off the far post in the 13th minute. The small number of travelling supporters at least saw some action but it was all at the wrong end. Kane gave Spurs the lead, receiving the ball from Etienne Capoue and rifling a low shot past the opposing goalkeeper, Tomas Kosicky, before Lamela’s exquisite piece of brilliance in the 29th minute.
If that was a decent strike, then Lamela’s first was out of this world. He received the ball just outside the area following good work from Adebayor and wrapped his left foot around his standing right. The contact was pure, and the direction sublime. Davies could only put his hands on his head in shock. Pochettino, remarkably, did not react at all. He received the ball just outside the area following good work from Emmanuel Adebayor and wrapped his left foot behind his standing right. The contact was pure and the direction perfect. Ben Davies could only put his hands on his head in disbelief. Pochettino, remarkably, did not react at all.
The Spurs manager was furious, though, moments later when Lamela dawdled on the ball in midfield when it was clear to all inside the stadium that Adebayor should have been fed through on goal. It was certainly a strange few minutes but, retreating down the tunnel at half-time, Lamela can rarely have moved with such swagger. The Spurs manager was furious, though, moments later when Lamela dawdled on the ball in midfield when Adebayor should have been fed through on goal. It was certainly a strange few minutes but, retreating down the tunnel at half-time, Lamela looked as if he felt 10ft tall.
He had a shot charged down in the penalty area in the 48th minute following a cushioned header from Adebayor, with Tottenham increasing the pressure. Fernando Usero had an effort well blocked at the other end, but the visiting captain appeared to be fighting a losing battle. Pochettino said: “Today Besiktas won in Partizan and we are ahead with Besiktas in the group. There are three games to play and all is possible. For us it is a good victory today. Three points were very important for us.”
His team were sinking and almost conceded in calamitous circumstances. Tripolis failed to deal with a simple cross from the right touchline and centre-half Khalifa Sankaré almost comically hacked the ball into his own net. Lamela had a second shortly after half-time. Tripolis were guilty of more poor defending and allowed the 22-year-old time and space in the area after he was played in by Kane. His initial shot was blocked into the air but he lashed a left-footed volley under the goalkeeper from the rebound. For Kane, meanwhile, the fun was just beginning.
Lamela soon had a second. Tripolis were guilty of more poor defending and allowed the Argentinian time and space in the area after being played in by Kane. His initial shot was blocked into the air but, with an apparent new-found confidence, he lashed a left-footed volley under the goalkeeper from the rebound. He swept in with 16 minutes remaining after Kosicky had spilled an initial shot from Mousa Dembélé, and soon had a hat-trick. The young striker headed in from a Federico Fazio cross before replacing Lloris after the Frenchman was shown a red card in the closing stages for bringing down Tasos Tsokanis.
Lloris was called into action and produced a brilliant save to deny Usero, but the game was up for Tripolis. Sadly for Kane, his golden touch deserted him after pulling on Lloris’s purple jersey. Even so, it was a night he will never forget.
Kane bagged his second of the evening with 16 minutes remaining, sweeping in after Kosicky had spilled an initial shot from Mousa Dembélé, and soon had a hat-trick. The young striker headed in from a Fazio cross towards the end of a miserable night for the Greeks, before Kane replaced Lloris in goal after the Frenchman was shown a red card in the closing stages for bringing down Tasos Tsokanis. “It was a great result for us, a great win, and obviously I’m happy to get the hat-trick,” said Kane. “I thought it was good to get the second and third, extra goals when the team are dead on their feet and when we want to start killing off teams.
“It was a great night until I went in goal. In fairness I think I’ll leave that to the keepers from now on.”