Panic over! Tottenham qualify for Champions League knockout stages with late win despite rampant Marseille performance
- Marseille dominated injury-hit first half
- Lenglet equalised after break
- Hojbjerg then knocked Marseille out of Europe
WHAT HAPPENED? Antonio Conte's side were completely shellshocked in the opening 45 minutes in France and eventually fell 1-0 behind in an abysmal first-half showing that saw Marseille's Eric Bailly and Spurs' Son Heung-min forced off through injury.
THE BIGGER PICTURE: Injuries ought to have slowed the game down in Tottenham's favour in an interrupted first half, but instead they drowned under the deafening noise coming from the Stade Velodrome. Clement Lenglet's early second half equaliser steadied their nerves and crucially pulled Spurs back up to second in group D, before Hojbjerg sealed proceedings with a kiss in the form of a thunderous injury time winner, capping off a spirited second half display.
ALL EYES ON: Alexis Sanchez had talked up his love for former employers Arsenal in the build-up to the game, and while he couldn't get on the scoresheet, he rolled back the years with his first-half performance. Sanchez was desperate for a goal and was only denied by poor fortune and desperate defending, but his front-footed display from the first whistle was key to energising his side and pushed them onto Spurs from the off. Crucially, though, he couldn't knock Spurs out of Europe.
MATCH IN THREE PHOTOS:
DID YOU KNOW? The victory means Tottenham have won away from home for the first time in seven attempts against French opposition in European competition.
THE VERDICT:
Marseille fans did their best to put off their visitors before the game.
The Marseille fans like their fireworks. It's going to be a raucous atmosphere tonight. pic.twitter.com/vL9hf2Mfgn
— Alasdair Gold (@AlasdairGold) November 1, 2022
It was not a vintage first-half display from Spurs.
Bet they got the job done in the end!
When did Hojbjerg download this shooting package please? ksksnksksk 😭
— Carl Anka (@Ankaman616) November 1, 2022
Ultimately, it was an extremely un-Spursy display.
Once again, the first half was abysmal, nearly unforgivable.
— Sean Walsh (@SeanDZWalsh) November 1, 2022
Second half, sensational. Tottenham stood up when it mattered most without three of their four best players - all attackers when in desperate need of a goal - and it was one hell of a team effort.
🎶 Oh what a night…
WHAT NEXT FOR TOTTENHAM? Having responded to a dire first half with a positive performance, Conte's side can now breathe a little and focus on building momentum in what remains of their pre-World Cup fixtures. However, Son's injury is a significant worry.