Tottenham 2-0 Antwerp: Carlos Vinicius, Giovani Lo Celso goals see Spurs top group
Second-half goals from Carlos Vinicius and Giovani Lo Celso saw Tottenham top their Europa League group with a comfortable 2-0 win over Royal Antwerp.
Vinicius should have put Spurs ahead before half-time when played through by Lucas Moura but shot straight at Alireza Beiranvand, before making amends with a tap-in 10 minutes into the second period after Gareth Bale’s free-kick had been tipped onto the post.
Harry Kane, Heung-Min Son and Tanguy Ndombele were surprise additions from the bench moments later and the former had a hand in Spurs’ second, feeding Lo Celso to slot in from a closing angle with 19 minutes to go.
Spurs needed victory to secure top spot and a favourable route in next week’s last-32 draw, and comfortably saw out the three points against their Belgian visitors, who did not manage a shot on target across 90 minutes.
Spurs make final-day showdown look simple
Needing a victory to avoid the likes of Manchester United – who Jose Mourinho said ‘should not be in the Europa League’ altogether – Spurs took their time to get going in front of 2,000 expectant fans in north London.
It took almost 20 minutes for the hosts to find the target, with Vinicius’ tame effort from wide meat and drink for Beiranvand to hold.
The goalkeeper should have been made to pay on the half-hour mark when he flapped at Moura’s corner, but had Martin Hongla to thank for heading clear before Vinicius could pounce at the empty net.
Most of Spurs’ joy was coming through Lucas Moura, unleashed through the middle and causing problems from deep. His run and threaded pass released Vinicius for the chance of the first half, but again the Brazilian fired straight at the goalkeeper from a good position.
After the break, there was a notable sense that the hosts had stepped things up a gear and Abdoulaye Seck, booked before half-time, was lucky to stay on the pitch when bringing down Moura 30 yards out.
Mourinho assistant Joao Sacramento received a yellow instead for insulting the referee but was soon celebrating as Bale’s free-kick was turned onto the post by Beiranvand, giving Vinicius the simple task of tapping home.
Son, Kane and Ndombele arrived within moments and once they had got into their stride, made their impact known. Moments after Son’s angled drive had been tipped over, Moussa Sissoko found Kane, whose slide-rule pass released Lo Celso for a lovely two-touch take and finish.
There was a momentary worry for Mourinho as Son was left limping after a heavy challenge but he soon shook off that worry, just as Spurs did to Antwerp, to top the group and ensure they will be seeded in Monday’s Europa League last-32 draw.
What the manager said…
Spurs boss Jose Mourinho on introducing Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son: „The thinking was to win the match. In spite of being in control always, and them not creating any chances I remember, the game was still open. To play 30 minutes is not an accumulation of fatigue, to play 30 minutes is less than 90 minutes, 100 minutes of a training session, so it was not a problem at all.
„I decided after the first goal to bring fresh players and give a last kick in the story of the game, and it was game over when Gio [Lo Celso] scored the second goal.“
Man of the match – Giovani Lo Celso
Operating from deep but driving forward to good effect, Lo Celso and Moura ran the show for Tottenham before half-time.
But while the Brazilian’s performance dropped off in the second half, his South American team-mate continued to pull the strings from the heart of midfield and looked fitter than he has done for some time, including one memorable outmuscle and run midway through the second period.
He got the goal his performance deserved and having now started three games in a week, can be very satisfied with his recent work.
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