Christian Eriksen blasts in winner as Tottenham keep Champions League hopes alive with victory over Inter Milan
Spurs knew they had to win at Wembley to have any chance of qualifying for the knockout stages and that's exactly what they did - just
DANIEL has a dream.
Tottenham’s ambitious chairman wants to open the doors to his shiny new stadium with visits from Real, Bayern, Juve in the Champions League.
Somehow it is still on for these Spurs boys.
Christian Eriksen, keeping Tottenham’s Champions League dreams alive with the 80th minute winner, can write his own pay cheques from here.
He has spared them, giving Spurs a puncher’s chance of making it through to the last 16.
They will take that.
Eriksen came off the bench to score the only goal, the sweet left-footed finish that keeps Spurs in the Champions League.
It was another one of those glory, glory nights.
The atmosphere inside this stadium changed in a heartbeat.
Tottenham’s blood is pumping now, readying themselves for the challenge of surviving the Nou Camp onslaught in a couple of weeks.
Barcelona, the group leaders, have been warned.
Wembley was raucous, saluting Eriksen after he jumped off the bench to score the winner.
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He ghosted into the area, watching the inter-play and exchanges of Moussa Sissoko and Dele Alli on the way to goal.
When Dele put the chance in front of him, Eriksen planted his effort beyond Samir Handanovic.
It was a stirring finish, reward for Mauricio Pochettino after messing around with his team selections.
Poch meddled, leaving out his weekend warriors – Eriksen, Son and Dier – from the off.
Eriksen was sensational against Chelsea, the architect of that breathless 3-1 victory.
They missed him, especially his eye-of-the-needle delivery from set-pieces.
Erik Lamela, the Great Dane’s direct replacement, does not have the same qualities from dead balls.
He wasted one in the first-half, sending his kick sailing out for a goalkick when Spurs had sent up the heavy artillery.
Toby Alderweireld, especially, did not look impressed to have made the 160 yard return trip upfield.
Spurs created other first-half chances, doing their duty by prodding away at this Inter Milan defence.
Dele, scorer of the headed opener against Chelsea, shovelled an effort over the bar after Harry Kane teed him up.
It kick-started a little flurry, with Lucas Moura’s shot saved easily by Handanovic after some good work from Sissoko down the right.
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He had another good game out there.
Then there was Harry Winks, smacking the crossbar when he dug an effort out from under his right foot.
This was better, adding some intensity to a match they had no choice but to win.
Kane, hero against PSV Eindhoven, drew Marcelo Brozovic into a booking when he clotheslined the Spurs striker on the halfway.
He looked determined to make an impact, to make sure there was still something in this group when they travel to the Nou Camp on matchday six.
They made life so difficult: defeat in the San Siro, the draw with PSV in Holland and that mesmerising night at Wembley when Barcelona trampled all over them.
They were still in with a shout against Inter, with Pochettino demanding a victory in their final group game at home.
At times they dished it out, with Toby Alderweireld booked for a cynical shove on Mauro Icardi and Lamela following him for nobbling Brozovic.
Poch started making changes, turning to Eriksen and Son from the bench for the final 20 minutes or so.
One of Eriksen’s first touches was a peach of a free-kick, finding the head of Alderweireld steaming in at the far post.
He sent it wide, but Tottenham were starting to find some tempo.
They had to throw bodies forward, to take some risks as they tried to find a way past this Inter defence.
It left them vulnerable at the back, with Hugo Lloris getting down well to save from that rascal Ivan Perisic 15 minutes from time. The clock was ticking.
This has not been a vintage Champions League season for Tottenham, struggling to mirror their Premier League form in Europe. For now it does not matter.
They are still dreaming of rubbing shoulders with the serious players, the Real Madrids, the Bayern Munichs, the Juventus’ of this world in the second round.
To do it they have to survive a trip to the Nou Camp, to come up with a battleplan that keeps them above Inter Milan in the final standings.
It will not be easy.
Barcelona marmalised Spurs at Wembley, toying with Poch’s players in a torrid, 90-minute working over.
They have to put that to one side now. This win, given the manner of it, means they can go to the Emirates on Sunday with a spring in their step.
This is a brutal week of football, coming through the Chelsea home game with flying colours and getting the job done against Inter.
Eriksen’s intervention was critical, giving Spurs the lift they needed at a point when it looked as though they were heading out of Europe. The Great Dane had other ideas.
He showed remarkable composure, creating time and space for himself inside the area before beating Handanovic with a smart finish.
It means Spurs stay in Europe a bit longer, within sight of knockout football in their new home in early 2019.
For that, they have Eriksen to thank.