A game of Rodrigo’s
By Usayd Tai
It was a seven-goal thriller down at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, as we looked to end our last game before the World Cup with a win. We were looking to bounce back after a midweek defeat to Nottingham Forest in the Carabao cup, whilst Leeds was looking to extend their good run of form, after vital wins against Bournemouth and even Liverpool at Anfield.
We started off slow and really struggled get into the game, and ended up paying for our mistakes, as Brendan Aaronson for Leeds played a lovely pass through, which was placed into the back of the net by Sommerville, who continued his recent good form in front of goal.
We then responded well for the next fifteen minutes, and eventually it was one of our own Harry Kane, who found the back of the net from a corner. A short VAR check was held after, but the goal was given.
From this point on, it was a basketball game, Leeds retook the lead two minutes before the break after we defended poorly from a Leeds corner. A wonderful strike on the volley from Rodrigo was enough to put it past Lloris the Tottenham skipper.
Six minutes into the second half, a quick throw in from Royal put Kulusevski through down the right, who managed to beat his way past the Leeds defender and square it to Kane, but his shot was blocked by a heroic Kristensen on the line. However, the rebound dropped to an unlikely goal scorer in Ben Davies on the edge of the box whose strike was enough to get past Meslier and again Kristensen. 2-2 game on.
As we looked to push on and get our third, Bentancur was brought down outside the centre circle, but the referee said no foul and play continued. As we protested, Leeds found space through Rodrigo again, who managed to score and put Leeds ahead for a third time from a tight angle fifteen minutes from the ninety.
Our gaffa was demanding more from us, as he made two substitutions who certainly changed the game. On came Bissouma and Doherty for Emerson and Richarlison, and you could say Bissouma was a game changer.
We looked more comfortable with a three in midfield going from a 343 to a 352, and as we pushed forward, our efforts were rewarded, as Doherty’s cross was cleared by the Leeds defence to the edge of the box but found our Rodrigo this time Rodrigo Bentancur, who found the back of the next with nine to play. 3-3.
And two minutes later, we were ahead by another goal from our Rodrigo again. A lovely bit of skill and composure from his mate from Juventus Dejan Kulusevski, who beat Robin Koch with ease down the right-hand side, before squaring it to Bentancur to who tapped it into an empty net. Euphoria for Tottenham Hotspur.
A huge win and a massive three points, that keep us in the top 4 going into the World Cup break. Come on You Spurs.
Spurs – Lloris (C), Emerson, Dier, Lenglet, Davies, Perisic, Hojbjerg, Bentancur, Kulusevski, Richarlison, Kane
Subs – Forster, Sanchez (57 for Royal), Doherty (57 for Sanchez), Tanganga, Spence, Skipp, Bissouma (69 for Richarlison), Moura (90 for Kulusevski), Gil