Tottenham 0 RB Leipzig 1: Timo Werner penalty deals Jose Mourinho huge blow in Champions League tie
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ON the night Spurs paid tribute to their greatest striker, they saw how badly they need one.
Tottenham celebrated Jimmy Greaves’ 80th birthday as Leipzig celebrated victory in this Champions League last 16 first leg tie.
Timo Werner’s second half spot kick means last season’s beaten finalists have another mountain to climb if they are to reach the latter stages again this time.
And without a striker they will have to climb it with effectively both hands behind their backs.
Still it could have been worse. Much worse.
One goal was scant reward for Leipzig’s dominance and with his main frontmen Harry Kane and Son Heung-min sidelined with long-term injuries, it is difficult to see how Spurs boss Jose Mourinho can
turn this tie around in Germany in three weeks’ time.
How Tottenham could do with a Greavesy right now.
The Lilywhites’ legendary marksman netted 266 goals in 379 appearances in just over eight years for the club between December 1961 and March 1970.
He also played for Chelsea and West Ham and his final total of 357 goals is more top-flight strikes than any other player.
His family attended the game last night - where Kane presented them with a gift before kick-off.
Quite what the old master would have made of it is anybody’s guess.
For Mourinho, his players and Tottenham it was worrying as their lack of cutting edge prevented them from getting a real foothold in the match.
Still, at least Tottenham fans were treated to a new light-show inside the stadium before kick-off.
It must be comforting for Spurs followers to know that while their club failed to land an out-and-out striker in the January, they did manage to sign an electrician.
You could not help but wonder if Spurs stars were dazzled by the bright lights as they made a trance-like start.
And they were lucky not to fall behind as Leipzig created four excellent chances in the opening NINETY SECONDS.
First, Czech striker Patrik Schick drilled a shot wide from the edge of the area.
Then after Timo Werner had seen his close range effort cannon off Spurs defender Davinson Sanchez, former Manchester City loanee Angelino’s shot ricocheted off Hugo Lloris’ leg and onto the post - not that the Spurs keeper knew much about it.
And when the Germans switched play to the other flank, Werner’s shot was smothered by Lloris at his near post.
Shell shocked Spurs struggled to get out of their own half in the opening stages.
When they did finally manage to get into Leipzig’s box, Steven Bergwijn’s shot was parried by keeper Peter Gulasci, whose only first-team appearances in a previous five-year stint at Liverpool came on loan spells at Hereford, Tranmere and Hull.
It proved to be only a brief respite as Leipzig went close again before the break when Schick headed wide from a corner and Werner had another shot saved by Lloris.
The game was halted at the start of the second half when Leipzig fans threw toilet rolls onto the pitch.
This was not in response to Tottenham’s first-half display - but a protest against rising ticket prices.
Spurs then created their best chance of the night so far when Serge Aurier’s cross into the box was flicked towards goal by Lucas Moura.
Gulacsi got down well to keep it out and unfortunately for Mourinho, Bergwijn skewed the rebound wide.
Tottenham were looking stronger than they did before the break, but they fell behind when Ben Davies sent Konrad Laimer crashing to the ground as he tried to intercept Werner’s ball into the box.
Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir pointed to spot and Werner netted the resulting penalty to give Leipzig the edge in the 57th minute.
It was no more than the visitors deserved and they could have had a second moments later when Werner brilliantly dummied Angelino’s ball inside, but Schick’s shot was turned away by Lloris.
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Mourinho took action by subbing Gedson Fernandes and Dele Alli with Tanguy Ndombele and Erik Lamela.
Dele looked far from happy as he stormed past his manager - who did not even glance at him - to the dugout where the player took his frustrations out on a water bottle and then one of his boots as he threw each to the ground in fury.
Back on the pitch, Giovani Lo Celso was proving to be Tottenham’s biggest goal threat as he went close with a long-range shot and then a free kick, which Gulacsi did well to tip onto the post and away for a corner.
